The Parent Trap (Camren)

Trouble comes in Double

Two horses, black and white galloped through the vineyards that afternoon. Lauren was racing after Penny and the two were throwing joking threats to each other about who will win. They reached a dusty pathway and then slowed their horses to a trot.

"So, you excited about our camping trip?" Lauren asked her daughter, looking over at her once they came to a complete stop over the cliff.

"What camping trip?" Penny asked confused - obviously her twin failed to mention that part.

"What camping trip? The one we go on every summer before you go back to school." Lauren answered her with a look that wondered if she was kidding.

"Oh, that camping trip. Yeah, sure... I can't wait." Penny answered with a smile as if she remembered. She made a note to herself to berate her sister for not telling her.

Looking at the beautiful view, Lauren cleared her throat. "So, Punky, what do you think of Keana?" she asked expectantly.

"As what, Mom? Your publicist? Your friend? Your..." she was cut off by her mother.

"No, just - what do you think of her?" she asked, "As a person?"

"Oh she's...uh, cute, nice hair, good teeth. She can spell the word YOU - I don't know." she shrugged. "Honestly Mom, the woman's a complete stranger to me. Why do you want my opinion anyway?" she asked as if she already didn't know. The way Lauren and Keana acted around each other they were both headed to much bigger things than being just...friends.

"Well I'll tell you why, Punky. Because believe it or not..."

"Race you back to the ranch, Mom!"

"Punky I'm trying to tell you something!"

Lauren watched as her daughter galloped away at full speed. She silently cursed and tried to gallop after her but she was already far ahead.

Penny could not believe that her assumption was correct and that the two were getting married. She hastily jumped off her horse and ran back to the house. Bursting in through the French doors, she paced back and forth starting a monologue; something her mother does too when upset.

"I'm in so over my head here. I can't handle this alone. I just can't. I'm only one kid." Penny started ranting her throwing her arms up and down in panic mode, dropping her accent completely. Normani suddenly looked around from the corduroy arm chair she was sitting on.

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class there Punky?" she asked a bit sternly.

Penny jumped up in surprise and clutched her bosom, "Mani," she said out of breath, "You gave me a fright!"

"I gave you 'a fright'?" her godmother echoed standing up and folding her newspaper.

"I mean you scared me. I didn't know you were like, in here." Penny tried to explain as she backed away from the intense look Normani was giving her.

"You sure there's nothing you want to talk to me about? Like maybe why Brandon never comes near you anymore or why your appetite's suddenly changed or why all of a sudden you're neat as a pin and using expressions like, 'You gave me a fright'." Normani started to inquire the girl as she walked around Penny and crossed her arms.

"Normani.. I changed a lot over the summer that's all." Penny tried to cover herself, moving away from her.

"Ok, if I didn't know any better I'd say it's almost as if you were," Normani stopped herself in time and then shook her head, "Forget it - it's impossible," she said and started to walk away.

"Almost as if I were who, Mani?" Penny asked.

"Nobody, nobody. Forget that I mentioned it." Normani said with an assuring smile.