The two girls went back to their respective cabins, spending the next few hours packing their stuff, obeying Marva SR orders. The incident had spread far and wide in the camp by the time the pair of them had finished packing and both of their names were known, at the very least they were now infamous amongst the camp, though both girls didn't exactly want all this attention. After finishing packing the two girls headed towards the mess hall, to be greeted by the still upset Marva's, with their packed suit-cases and duffel. What they didn't know is the two Marva's had felt it correct to drag the whole camp along with them. It seemed for a while normal camp acts had stopped and everyone was anxious to see exactly what was about to happen to the girls.
The two Marva's spent the two hours after the event pondering over what to do, they couldn't send them home as that would be as good as failure. It was time to utilize the spare cabin. So with the rest of the girls, the two Marva's lead the girls, who were in the front of the large line and carrying all their luggage and without any help, which for Annie wasn't very easy considering her full suitcases. He walk from the mess hall lasted about five minutes, with the two girls quite sure what do with themselves, they certainly weren't going to talk to each though that was for sure, besides just carrying the luggage was hard enough ,though Hallie had a distinct advantage being she only had to carry one large duffel ,which she carried over her back.
Then at a junction Marva JR hands her mom the bullhorn that she had been carrying and the pair stop their military style march, with a sign behind the younger Marva saying Isolation cabin. Out of the two girls it was Hallie who was dreading what was to come the most and this feeling was heightened by the sign ahead of her, and worse of all it was her fault, had her plan not been so perfect then this might not have happened.
Marva SR:Okay girls, the rest of, back to your activities.
Marva SR: You two, the isolation cabin.
The rest of the girls behind walking with the two Marva's and the girls to isolation camp all become very excited as they all go running to where-ever they wanted to go and screaming and cheering while the girls were in total contrast, Annie keeping a fairly clam complexion while Hallie obviously feeling rather aggravated by the whole situation and her face showed this all to well as the pair turn to each other both looking into each others eyes briefly before Hallie turns away in a little grumble, turning away to face the two Marva's again, which is the queue for Marva JR pointing rather childishly towards a hill, with wooden steps and finally at the top a cabin.
Marva SR hands back the bullhorn to her daughter before proceeding with her daughter and the two girls up the stairs and into the wooden cabin, with Annie using her best efforts just to keep herself balanced and stop herself from falling over due to the weight of her cases, while Hallie continued to carry her duffel on her shoulder before reaching the cabin. Into the cabin they go, a one room, two bed cabin designed for just such an up-set, though it had never been used before, so this was the first time for Camp Walden and also the first time that the girls would spend any decent amount of time with each other. Annie rushes towards the nearest bed claiming it and dropping all her stuff immediately, which prompts Hallie to look angrily at Annie, wanting that bed for herself, though the presence of the two Marva's stopped Hallie from bursting into another argument with Annie and so Hallie accepts the arrangements and heads for the far bed, throwing her duffel rather violently in a sulk onto the bed before the pair turn towards the Marva's still standing by the door.
Marva SR.: we've got seven weeks left at camp and you two are going to spend every glorious one of them - together. You'll eat together, bunk together and do all your activities together. Either you'll find a way to get along or you'll punish yourselves better than I ever could.
Marva JR:.You'll thank us for this, you'll see.
The two Marva's head out of the cabin leaving a rather upset Hallie with her rival Annie, with nothing to do. Annie calmly opens her suitcase and puts her stuff away as neatly as she can while on the opposite side of the room, Hallie tips up her duffel and allows the whole lot to fall all over the bed.
For the rest of the trip, the two would be together, whether they liked it or not, in each others company though not through choice, eating separately from the rest of the girls in silence, with Annie preferring a lot of vegetables with her meals and always having a good book on hand, while Hallie enjoyed scuffing lots of unhealthy foods into her, mainly burgers while playing her gameboy. Whatever they did, they tried their hardest to pay no attention to each other, still both fiercely up-set with the other one, especially Hallie, though thankfully for Annie she had calmed down somewhat since the morning.
The pair of them spent the rest of their day in cabin, sitting in their beds, Hallie perfectly content playing her games while Annie continued to read her book till the evening when she finished her book ,deciding to start writing a letter home to the family instead. She had only gotten a little way through the letter before Hallie finally got bored of playing her game, laying down on her bed closing her eyes , tired still from the late night and early start she had this morning and giving out little groans of frustration at not being able to get any sleep, afterall Annie had to have the light on to write her letter. She takes one look at Annie writing her letter on her knees, clutching Cuppie then flips the switch on the wall which turns the light off. Annie, still in the middle of writing her letter, takes a fed-up look at Hallie then flips the switch located near her bed, turning on the light once again. Hallie gets herself back up after just laying down and flips the switch again, Annie replies by flipping the switch and for the next few seconds they go into a flipping frenzy with the light turning off and on before Annie finally puts her stuff on the flow and lets out a loud annoyed scream, and slams her head down onto the pillow to sleep. The pair started to think that maybe staying here wasn't a good thing, even another week of this would drive the pair of them mad.
Still, a new day dawned and for once, unlike the last few days it was a fairly stormy with the wind howling around the camp, with the camp staff lowering the flags. The cabin mood had changed overnight a little, some of the nastiness had left and a sense of resignation descended onto the two girls. A hole in the roof allowing for a large puddle to form overnight, and as Annie was the first awake as usual, she gets the closest bucket and places it under the dripping water, which also wakes up Hallie. Annie spends the next hour sitting in Hallie's bed, messing about with her set of cards from her grandfather. Meanwhile Hallie spent her time putting up her pictures, in an attempt to at least make the cabin more homelike. The only problem with this cabin was its age, it was falling apart a little due to neglect, and the window was no exception to this, with a large gust of air blasting the window open sending many of Hallie's pictures over the floor. Annie saw this as well and was in two minds, while still upset with Hallie, she could just let Hallie try and shut the window on her own, especially as it seemed to be jammed due to the strength of the wind gust. So trying to be helpful, Annie rushes across the room and pushes on the window, trying to get it un-jammed.
Annie: Oh gosh, its stuck
They started to push together on the window, with Hallie feeling a little more relieved that at least she could get it shut with the help of another person. With one huge heave the window slams shut, and the two girls are left there, looking at each other though for the first time in a more friendly way, any dispute seemed to drain away almost instantly thanks to lone little act of kindness.
Hallie: Thanks.
Annie: Your welcome.
The second of kindness was to set the fate of these girls forever, though at the time they didn't realise it. Anyway for now their attentions turned to the mess on the floor that the gust of wind had caused, leaving many of Hallie's pictures in a big messy pile causing, but at least the ice had finally been broken which was a relief to the pair. Well now that they were back on speaking terms, Annie couldn't well leave her to pick up all of her stuff on her own ,besides that wasn't in Annie's nature and would help something she liked anyway and while they both wouldn't go that far yet, certainly the nastiness was long gone by now. Annie climbs of the bed onto the wooden floor on her knees, helping Hallie to pick up all the photos though both still seemed to be a little unsure of what to say to each other, afterall both had played practical jokes on each other. By the bucket of water was Hallie teddy, Cuppie. It was right next to Annie and she couldn't help but notice it so she picks it up and turns to Hallie with her hand sticking out holding Cuppie.
Annie: Here's your…
Hallie: Cuppie
The pair of them let off a little laugh as they both look at one another, still a little uncertain of what to do though by now both had a smile on their faces, happy that at the very least this trip wasn't going to end in the pair of them going completely mad. There was another brief pause as the two continued to scoop up the pictures waiting for something else to talk about.
Annie: Any of your pictures ruined?
Hallie: (holding torn photo) Only the beautiful Leo DiCaprio.
Annie: Who?
Hallie: You've never heard of Leonardo DiCaprio.
How far away is London anyway.
Annie: From here - about three thousand miles. But sometimes, it seems much further. -How far away is your home?
Hallie: California's way at the other end of the country. Actually, here's a picture of my house.
The two girls seemed to be quite content with each others company, considering they had been sworn rivals just the day before, infact the two were pleasantly surprised at just how friendly the other was and the tone in both of their voices was much more relaxed then recently. From her trunk Hallie picks out a picture of her house and she takes one glance at it, due to missing it before giving it to Annie to gaze over.
Annie: Wow. It's beautiful.
Hallie: Yeah, they built it when I was little, we've got this incredible porch that wraps around the whole house with rocking chairs and a hammock and stables back thataway...
Annie: Who…who's that
Hallie: Oh, that's my Dad... He didn't know I was taking a picture or he would've turned around. He's kinda like my best friend. We do everything together.
The two girls, getting closer and closer continue to look at the picture before suddenly Annie gets up and walks away from Hallie towards the bed in the corner, a little saddened, though she wasn't about to tell Hallie exactly the reason why, so instead she masks it over instead by pulling her sleeves off her camp Walden jumper down as far as they will go, leaving Hallie curious as to why Annie has suddenly stood up.
Hallie: What's the matter?
Annie: it's chilly in here, that's all.
Annie heads over to the bed in the corner and sits down on it, a little downhearted much like the weather was on that particular day. Hallie suddenly thought of an idea to cheer up Annie, she quickly heads over to the trunk again on her knees, taking out of it one of her favourite foods, a pack of Oreos.
Hallie: Want one?
Annie: Sure. I love Oreos At home, I eat them with peanut butter.
Hallie briefly stops looking down her trunk, with a hint of surprise on her face as she starts to look down her trunk again, knowing that perhaps there was something they both liked to eat afterall, it came as a shock more to Hallie then to Annie though, afterall who ate their Oreos with peanut butter?
Hallie: You do? That's so weird. So do I.
Annie: You're kidding? Most people find that totally disgusting.
Hallie: I know. I don't get it.
Annie: Me either.
The two girls let out a little giggle as Hallie heads over to the bed and sits on the cabinet at the end of the bed, placing the peanut butter down and opening the jar before opening the pack of Oreos, with Annie sitting on the bed next to Hallie and while still fiddling about with stuff and still cold, she was feeling a little better in Hallie's company, infact they were really enjoying each others company for the first time on the entire trip, they were way more compatible friendship wise then they had ever first thought.
Hallie What's your dad like? I mean, is he the kind of father you can talk to or is he one of those workaholic types that says, 'I'll talk to you later, honey', but never really does? I hate that.
Annie gives off a quick laugh, but really she didn't know what Hallie was talking about, afterall she was brought up without a father, with Hallie suddenly realising that her speaking about her father in the way she did must have made Annie a tad upset, even if she was quite strong willed.
Annie: I don't have a father, actually. I mean, I had one, once, I suppose, but my parents divorced years ago. My mother never even mentions him. It's like he evaporated into thin air or something.
Hallie: It's scary the way nobody stays together any more.
Annie: Tell me about it.
Hallie: How old are you?
Annie: I'll be twelve on October 11th.
Halle: (chokes) So will I.
The girls looked at each shocked, with Hallie trying not to choke on her food to much and patting her chest to stop the food getting stuck, while Annie looks more and more confused, but interested as well, the two girls were starting to really learn about each other as the storm stops outside, with Hallie noticing by looking out the window, while Annie is still very curious, any small suspicions she had grew, especially since things started to fit into place.
Annie: Your birthday's October 11th? (Hallie nods) How weird is that?
Hallie: Very. Hey, it stopped raining. Want to get a Popsicle or something?
Hallie walks out of the cabin heading in the general direction of the mess hall, though Annie had other ideas, sitting down still on the bed, certainly compelled about the whole situation though her thoughts were outlandish, she had to ask Hallie about something else, which could clear up any confusion in Annie's mind, while Hallie was to busy getting thirsty. Annie rushes out of the room, fiddling about with her locket, while down the stairs, Hallie began to fiddle about with her locket, as the two girls turn to see each other they place their lockets back under their tops, though Hallie hadn't caught on to what was possibly happening, Annie had.
Annie: Hallie, what's your mother like?
Hallie: I never met her. She and my Dad split up when I was a baby, maybe even before, I'm not sure. He doesn't like to talk about her... but I know she was really beautiful.
Annie: How do you know that?
Hallie: Because my Dad had this old picture of her hidden in his sock drawer and he caught me looking at it all the time so he gave it to me to keep. I'm really thirsty, you sure you don't want to go to the canteen and get something to drink?
Annie's eyes widened as she heard this while Hallie was still to busy thinking about drink but Annie was now extremely interested about this picture, as she also had a picture of her mom, it started to dawn on Annie this wasn't just a coincidence, at least not this amount of similarities, though there was no conclusive evidence for her point of view, though the picture was going to help solve the problem.
Annie: Will you stop thinking about your stomach at a time like this!
Hallie: At a time like what?
Annie: Don't you realize what's happening?
Hallie is now more confused then ever, what had Annie exactly cottoned on to. Whatever it was the now ever excited Annie headed back inside the cabin with Hallie, who was confused but very curious indeed about what was happening, with Annie pacing up and down mentioning a long list of similarities. At last though Annie had put all the pieces together and she was almost convinced.
Don't you find it peculiar that we both look so much alike and have the same birthday and... Oh man, this is beyond coincidence, this is beyond imagination! I only have a mother, you only have a father.. You've never seen your Mom, I've never seen my Dad. You have one old picture of your Mom, I have one old picture of my Dad but at least yours is probably a whole picture...
Hallie continues to look at Annie as she lists the things, though denying it in the past, she couldn't deny that she looked just like Annie, and yes her birthday was the same date as well and the parent issue seemed to be very interesting…as inside her trunk was the picture that she had just mentioned outside, the one that Annie was curious about, It was too creepy and she digs down her trunk once again, finding the picture almost straight away, stopping Annie in mid-flight, everything pointed to one conclusion, and now Hallie was catching onto this solution as well, though they wouldn't raise hopes till there was conclusive proof, which was about to come.
Mine's a pathetic little thing, ripped right down the middle... What are you rummaging in your trunk for?...
Hallie: This. It's the picture of my Mom. And it's ripped, too.
Hallie holds it to her chest, while becoming a little emotional looking into Annie's eyes, who was more then a little spooked, well the pair of them were totally spooked at this, they had been rivals the whole time. Annie looks at Hallie, with intense interest at the ripped picture, but with real joy at what was happening, and surprise, the pair of them couldn't believe what was happening, afterlal the day before they weren't even on speaking terms, now they were about to find out the largest revelation in their lives, both now ultra nervous about what was about to come. Annie pressed on, incredibly curious about what the photo looked like.
Annie: Right down the middle?...
Hallie: Right down the middle.
Annie leaves Hallie briefly and heads towards her cabinet where all of her personal stuff were located and found the small box with the queen on the front and slowly and nervously opens it, looking down it for the picture that would confirm both of their suspicions, the tension by now was unbelievable, they were both certain that everything wasn't just coincidence. Annie finally finds it, carefully removing it from the box then placing it upon her chest to conceal the image that was on the other side and proceeds towards Hallie
Annie: This is so freaky. Okay. on the count of three, we'll show them to each other, okay?
Hallie/Annie: (at the same time) One... two... Three!
The two walk closer and closer to each other on each count before standing side by side then on the count of three they both turn over their photos….they were right all along, the picture was the same one just ripped down the middle. They both step closer to each and connect the photos, as the two, side by side stand their looking in amazement and utter shock, looking at the two parts of the same picture finally connected, with the two incredibly emotional, trying their very hardest to not breakdown into tears just yet.
Annie: That's my Dad...
Hallie: That is my Mom...
The girls continue to stare at the picture, before lowering them and turning to each other, having a look at each, at least it explained just why everyone got mixed up with exactly who they were, they looked identical and it also explained that strange warmness when they both met for the first time face to face, all the feuds in the past week suddenly seemed to be thrown out of the window, they were great mates and they had realised they both enjoyed their company. The two girls try their hardest to not cry, though Hallie being a surprisingly emotional girl couldn't help but let the odd tear flood down her face. The lunch bell rings but Hallie's need for drink had instantly waned as the emotion over-whelming the pair of them
Annie: That's the lunch bell.
Hallie: I'm not so hungry anymore. So if your Mom is my Mom and my Dad is your Dad... and we're both born on October 11th, then you and I are... like... sisters.
Hallie confirms everything, although gets one small fact wrong, Hallie has another tear flooding down her cheek, while Annie lets out a very emotional smile, close to crying herself though laughing as well at Hallie's little mistake.
Annie: Sisters? Hallie, we're twins!
Annie finally starts to cry a little while looking at Hallie, who is now streaming a little as well at the thought, after all this time they had been apart they were finally together, the two of them at last. The two of them stand frozen looking at each other unable to say anything as the emotions of the entire experience destroys any words that try and come out. The two girls jump into each others arms in a loving embrace so glad that they had found out the truth at last and the warmth radiated so strongly from the pair. After a few seconds the pair break-up they both have a beaming smile and Hallie laughing slightly before going down to grab her locket, and pulls it out for Annie to see for the first time, fiddling with it.
Hallie: I just don't know what to say.
Annie: What's that your holding?
Hallie: Oh, I got it when I was born. It has my initial 'H' on it.
Annie looks at Hallie, with another massive smile growing on her face, finding the chain then bringing out her own locket to show Hallie, which is exactly the same as Hallie's bar one difference, the two are still amazed at the events of the morning though, but un-believably happy with the shock finally setting in, the idea of being a twin finally sinks through the Hallie, who also has a huge smile on her face.
Annie: I got mine when I was born, too. Except mine has an 'A' on it.
Hallie: Now I've got goose-bumps. Oh my God. I'm a twin?. There's two of me! I mean, two of us?
This is like…
Annie: mind-boggling
Hallie: Totally!
Hallie: Oh my god!
Annie: Oh my god!
The pair once again go into a tight embrace once again trying not to cry in front of each other but both extremely emotional plus ecstatic at what they had found out, all those co-incidences weren't so afterall. Hallie heads towards the bed in the corner and sits down still visibly shaking due to the shock and Annie follows Annie, sitting right next to her as close as they could get, resting on each other, Hallie all the sudden got a urge to ask Annie about something rather strange, however they were family now, and as they both looked so similar, almost identical to the point of not being able to tell them apart, Hallie felt the need to ask it.
Hallie: Can I see your toes?
Annie: Sure.
The two girls slipped off their trainers, kicking them to the other side of the room, careful though not to smash a hole in the wall, afterall this house seemed fit to collapse anyway. They stretched their legs out, identical in size and compared their feet, then they both stick out their hands and compare as well, with Annie noticing that the only difference with their hands was the nails.
Annie: Identical! Hands?
Hallie: Oh my god. Exactly the same. Except I bite my nails.
Annie: You should stop. See how nice they could look.
Hallie: What's your favourite colour?
Annie: Mint Green.
The pair looked at each other again, once again on the verge of crying and with huge beaming radiant smiles that did the excitement that both girls felt an injustice. After not knowing each other for nearly 12 years, there was a lot to find out about each other, and Annie felt quite ready to question Hallie further to find out just how similar they were. Annie taps Hallie and bends her right thumb all the way down to her wrist as an example before moving on to her next question.
Annie: Can you do this with your right hand only?
Hallie: (bending her left thumb down) No, but I can do it with my left hand only.
Annie: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Hallie: I don't know. Pizza...
Annie: Topped with... ?
Hallie: Olives, green pepper...
Annie: And...?
Hallie: Anchovies.
Annie: Oh my God. We are twins!
The girls scream in pure ecstasy and happiness, turn to each other and sit there frozen for a few seconds with nothing to say as the words simply wouldn't come out, words could no longer describe the feelings they had, they had gone from rivals to loving twins in just a dozen or so minutes and the whole sensation was supreme to anything the girls had ever felt, they were twins and for so many years, they finally knew each other, so many questions were welling up in their minds, questions of their parents were the main one but also past experience, it was all going around both of the girls minds, all these questions about the past and the future and their parents. The two girls finally stop looking at each other and go into another embrace, with the girls hugging so tightly, making up for all of those lost years of hugging each other, and as the next storm rolled in from the distance with the sound of thunder, the sun was shining in the cabin, with the two girls hugging then finally after holding their emotions in for so long, they both break down into a mass of tears as their emotions final over-whelm them….
Afterall, they were now twins.