Chapter 2- The more they know….

The day had dragged on this far but at last it was time to eat. Both Hallie and Annie had made some new friends. Still the time was 1.30pm and that sure enough meant food time and Annie especially due to the long journey was hungry. So the two groups both proceeded towards the mess hall where food of all sorts were being served. It was very busy, then again with nearly 150 kids in the building and considering its size it was hardly surprising that the place was packed, though once again it was the Marva's keeping things under control while the children got served.

Both Hallie and Annie got into the queue on separate sides, depending on what part of the camp you were located. On either side the same foods were being served and this system had helped to keep the level of mess down. Just a few minutes later the pair of them reached the front of the buffet, standing side by side but paying no attention to each other thanks to their sets of friends and both to busy paying attention to the nice food in front of them. Just as it seemed the two's eyes were destined to meet as they both get a roll, Marva Sr arrives with a empty plate, after being tempted by some lush Strawberries and gets in-between the pair of them.

Marva SR.: Excuse me, girls ... I've just got to have a scoop of those gorgeous strawberries. (holding a large spoonful, turns to Hallie) Care for some?

Hallie: Oh, no thanks, can't, I'm allergic.

Following her friends Hallie moves away from the buffet to sit her friends on the right hand side of the hall while Marva dumps her Strawberries into her plate, before turning to see Annie on her other side, just finishing a little chat to her friends.

Marva SR: How bout you, dear? Strawberries?

Annie: Sorry, wish I could but I'm allergic.

Marva continues to dig out some more strawberries before taking a look at Annie again, giving a confused look as to why she was looking at a carbon copy of the girl she was just talking too, she was old but she wasn't that confused.

MARVA SR. Oh, yes, allergic, you just told me that.

How'd you get over there? Oh, well, first day of camp... You'll have to excuse the ol' girl.

Annie pulls a shy smile as Marva starts to ramble to herself, while Annie is left wondering exactly what Marva was talking about as a hint of confusion spread across her face. Still the relaxation of her friends eased that thought from her mind and lured her over to sit down and eat the food, leaving Marva talking to herself and wondering just where Annie had gone.

At least I'm not Putting salt in the sugar shakers yet. I mean, sugar in the... Now, where'd she go? The lovely sunny day continued and by the end of the afternoon many brave girls decided to go swimming, Hallie had been one of them and decided to have a shower in the shower facilities. A few minutes after Hallie turned on the shower, Annie, a little un-accustomed to the heat of the day in June compared to London felt the need to wash her hair as well so enters the nearest cubicle, cubicle 4. The showers were located close to the lake in a prime position for washing after a swim. Between each cubicle was a big film, with nothing see able on the other sides of the film. Clumsily while washing her hair Hallie drops her soap over the other side, which was the cubicle that Annie was in. Being the kind person that Annie was she quickly bends over, getting own her back wet as she does so by the shower and picks up the soap bar, then jumps up merrily handing it back to the hand poking over the top of the film.

Annie: Here you go.

Hallie: Got it! Thanks

Annie passes Hallie the soap and both touch, for the first time in their lives. Everything seemed to stop for a second or two as some sort of energy flowed between the two of them ,quite what was unknown to them at that time but it shocked them a little. Slowly they let their hands dis-connect from each other and both turn to their lockets, both pretty much identical and hold them, clutching them.

The next day during the afternoon a Fencing competition is held close to the mess hall. By the time it was 1pm Hallie had already beaten everyone in sight that challenged her, she had learnt how to fence a while ago when she was younger and it showed, beating the latest challenger with a classy stab. Inside the other fencing suit and helmet was a boy, despite thinking it was a boys camp he was still having a great time and was helped up by Hallie who was wearing a Fencing suit with green on its front, the other was white all over.

Boy:
Touché!

Marva JR: The winner and still undefeated champ, Hallie Parker!

Hallie quickly takes off her helmet and a large smile spreads across Hallie's face as she takes a sort of bow while Marva lifts her arm to signal that she was still the champion of the camp and undefeated. She rushes towards her friends celebrating. Meanwhile after playing a hours worth of Tennis in the nearby courts Annie, and two other friends Jackie and Crosby pass close by, not noticing Hallie but hearing Marva.

Marva JR.: Do we have any challengers?

Oh come on ladies, lets not be Damsels in distress here.

Annie hears this plea from Marva and, like a certain someone else she was also very good at fencing though she still had her tennis racket and ball with her, still this was her chance to shine, and she was going to take it for the good of England, while fairly quiet compared to her mates, she was very cunning and sharp, competitive and at times mischievous.

Annie Sure.: I'll take a whack at it.

Marva JR:Okay we have ourselves a chall-an-ger.

Annie and her two friends head over to the chair where the equipment had been placed down while Hallie gives a high five to her mates on the other side, paying no attention to the next opponent and Annie similar, getting help from Jackie and Crosby to put on the thick vest while Hallie re-takes her helmet and puts it back over her head and takes the fencing sword while Annie turns around and places it over her head while another girl gives her the fencing sword. They turn and face each other , fully booted and kitted ready to sword fight.

Fencers ready?

Hallie: Ready

Annie:
All set

Both show off their opening move, with Hallie flicking her sword into her hand with Annie flicking her sword from her feet into her hand trying to show off what great skill she has got when it comes to fencing. They both raise there swords together then immediately Annie goes on the offensive causing Hallie to rapidly step back and parry all the attacks.

Under so much Hallie takes the initiative running backwards onto a tree taking a little lunge onto it and jumping off it taking two quick sweeps at Annie, who evades them neatly before blocking a few more blows from Hallie though its not long before Annie starts to charge forwards again onto the offensive scaring kids as the two of them head towards the mess hall, with Annie firmly in charge.

Once more though Hallie decides to take matters into her own hands to stop the offensive and quickly side-steps around Annie then pushing Annie, craftily into a big wooden statue and thrusts the word towards Annie's head, though Annie sharply reacts ducking to her left and she quickly rushes towards a big stack of hay and jumping over it forcing the following Hallie to do the same thing. Annie in a showing off mood leans against the hay parrying every single one of Hallie's attacks and then yawning and taunting Hallie.

Sure enough once Annie sticks her sword out Hallie whacks it upwards out of Annie's way, which forces her to go up on top of the hay stack while getting out of the way of Hallie's second lunge at her opponent. She quickly climbs up the haystack and neatly grabs her descending sword with her right hand. Annie quickly has a downward sweep and soon after Hallie also takes a upward sweep forcing a little jump from Annie to avoid being tripped up by the sword. Annie jumps onto the mess Halls balcony as the two continue their dance with swords both equal in terms of blows.

They continue battling towards the stairs where Hallie once more takes the lead and climbs up the stairs though this time Annie complies and turns to her right slightly allowing them to be on level ground facing each other. Hallie spins round heading down the wooden balcony while Annie pauses for a brief second then runs after her seizing the chance to finish the battle by running onto a sitting bench gaining her the high ground, keeping Hallie on the back foot till she couldn't parry backwards no further, then Touché!

Hallie flips over the top of the railings of the balcony and falls into a small wooden pool of water leaving Hallie with a brief scream as she lands back first into the water. Realising she may have hurt her enemy, Annie quickly raises her hand over the railings, as the competitive side of her personality waned, concerned at the other girl.

Annie: Sorry, let me help you.

Hallie: No, let me help you!

Hallie takes Annie's hand and also pulls over Annie causing her to land over into the wooden pool of water with a splash with Hallie none to pleased about losing though Annie not exactly thrilled to be in the cold water after offering to help her opponent while the other girls watching the fight with Marva JR are laughing away.

Annie:
What did you do that for!

The two angry girls get themselves up on opposite sides, after giving it their all there had to be a loser and this time it was Hallie, with her annoyed at being defeated in the way that she had, after all it was only 10 minutes ago that she was doing that sort of thing to other challengers, just like Annie, Hallie was very competitive and did like to get her own way a little though her heart was always in the right place, she was always up for some large style prank.

Marva JR: Okay, that was quite a show!
Alright Looks like we got ourselves a new camp champ. Miss Annie James! Alright girls, lets shake on girls.

The crowd was clapping in the background as the duo stand up. They have their backs turned to each other and at the same time both take their helmets off, drying their hair off somewhat but both still angry with each other a little smug smile did show itself on Annie's face as she was announced champion of the camp. They both had a real unwillingness to turn around and face each other and both eventually plucked up the courage and faced each other, slowly turning to see each others faces. A gasp of shock came from the pair of them as they finally meet face to face, the pair of them with identical looks both stunned at how similar they were physically as chatter started to spread round the rest of the group, who quickly disperse. The shock over-whelmed the two 11 year olds for a good 2-3 seconds before they both, cautiously, stick out their right hand and handshake, and just like the day before a strong warmth seemed to radiate from the pair as they connected hands, both once again shocked by this 'connection' and once again they both look into each others freckled faces as Marva continues to bog nosily in the background at the two. Their hands finally break apart as Annie shyly looks down and fiddles with her hair, waiting for Hallie to make the first move and Hallie was waiting for Annie to do the same thing, fiddling with her ear.

Hallie: Why's everyone staring?

Annie: Don't you see it?

Hallie: See what?

Annie: The resemblance between us.

Hallie: Between you and me! A resemblance? Let me see, turn sideways ...

Annie gives a quick nod after being asked about the resemblance, which was striking to say the least then, takes a quick breath wondering what to expect from Hallie before slowly turning around, then turns to the other side at the request of Hallie.

Now the other way... well, your eyes are much closer together than mine. Your ears stick out, your teeth are crooked and that nose!…well, don't worry, those things can be fixed.

Nicole and Zoe in the background laugh at the expense of Annie as Hallie insults her though her now fairly close friend Crosby doesn't take the insults to kindly and while Annie was too reserved to make anything major of the insults she certainly didn't take to kindly to it and neither did Crosby giving Annie a brief evil-like grin.

Crosby: (to Annie) Want me to deck her for you

Hallie: Hold on, I'm not quite finished. You want to know the real difference between us?

Annie, however docile she acted and looked was razor sharp when she wanted to be and coming up with a decent comeback she takes her hands to her chin and proceeded on a comeback to Hallie's insults.

Annie: I have class and you don't? Or I know how to fence and you don't? Take your pick…

Hallie: Why I oughta…

Both of the girls squared up with each other with Annie giving out a rather nasty grumble, what started off as a innocent fencing fight had escalated almost into a fight. Thankfully Marva was there and soon realised things were getting just a little out of hand.

Marva: Right, ladies its time to break up this little love-fest…Annie…Hallie, I mean Hallie…Annie, uh, I mean…whoa!

The launch bell rings and both sets of friends drag their look-alike mates away from the area in separate ways, with Hallie heading to the mess hall.

Zoe: That girl is a major loser.

Nicole: Yeah. Too bad you couldn't look like somebody cooler.

Meanwhile with her hair totally wet Annie takes off her suit, now champion of the camp but also rather intrigued at the similarities and stands there, with her two closest friends looking back at Hallie and the other two as they walk to the mess hall.

Annie: Do we really look as much alike as I think we do?.

Crosby: It's just a weird freak of nature. (slaps her on the back) Please accept my condolences.

Hallie takes one quick look back at Annie and stares at her while still trying not to make it look like she was, having a sneaky look at her and just how similar they looked and as much as they tried to deny this fact, it had the pair of them curious and interested.