Limelight 
Chapter One 
By: Karisma 
Rated: PG-13 
Genre: Alt, Romance 
www.geocities.com/karismafanfic 
Karisma456@hotmail.com 
Standard Disclaimers Apply 
2000 

    Serena Kinsley rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and looked around 
her blurry room, trying to discern what had stirred her from her 
precious sleep. The answer came soon enough when a sharp rapping came 
from her front door. Groaning, she hefted the floral covers off her 
flannel-clad frame and slipped into her robe. 
    "Coming!" She called when the knocking came once again. In the 
hallway of her one-bedroom apartment, she caught sight of the clock. 
1:30 in the morning. She yanked open the door. "What?" She demanded 
grumpily, wincing at the harshness of the fake light flooding her 
apartment. 
    "Serena?" A familiar voice asked, filled with hesitation. 
    Serena lifted her head up, daring to hope. She knew that voice, 
she had known that voice her entire life. Slowly she brought her eyes 
up to look into the face she knew better than anybodys. The face that 
was her own. 


    You want to what? Serena asked, flabbergasted. What she was 
asking her to do 
    Please, Serena, Mina Kinsley pleaded, her tearful aqua eyes 
begging a matching pairs. I need a breakSerena, I know its a lot to 
ask, especially considering 
    Even if I did agree to such a-a ludicrous thing, it wouldnt 
work! Serena insisted, crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly. 
    Sure it would, Mina pursued, leaning forward on the sofa. My 
movie is done-youd only have to go to the premiere. Id tell you 
everything else. 
    You dont know the first thing about me and my lifevice versa. 
    It wasnt mean to cut, but it did. Mina lowered her gaze and 
stared at the cream carpet in guilt. She deserved that. 
    Serena silently got up and walked over to her small kitchen to 
make some hot chocolate. Mina sighed and followed her. 
    Serena, Im sorry. She pleaded. But this could work, I know it 
could. Please, Serena. I-I need you, I need my sister. 
    That was it. Hook, line, and sinker. Because deep in her heart, 
Serena knew that no matter what one of the twins did to the other, the 
other, usually Serena, would help out the other one, usually Mina. 
    Mina took her silence as encouragement and coax. It could work. 
Itll be easy. For two weeks youll have it easy. And Ill-what do you 
do again? 
    Serenas face had softened, but at the recognition that her own 
flesh and blood didnt know any thing personal about her, her face 
hardened with a mixture of hurt and anger. 
    Im a physicist, she said coolly, roughly handing Mina a hot mug.
    Just like you wanted! Mina squealed gleefully, flashing that 
valuable smile of hers. 
    Im surprised you remembered, Serena spat bitterly. I would 
have thought Hollywood would have erased all your memories of a small 
town like Campton that apparently wasnt good enough for you. 
    Mina was silent for a moment, choking back tears. Serena, thats 
not fair. You knew how much I wanted to be famous-make something of 
myself. You knew! And that just couldnt happen in Campton. And then 
when Mom died- 
    You ran, Serena completed, her tone icy and clipped. 
    Serena, please dont be like this, Mina cried. 
    Her twin sighed and turned around. Im sorry, I know. She sipped 
from her mug. But at least your dream came true. Camptons been 
bragging about their very own Mina Kinsley and how shes on the silver 
screen. I loved your last movie: Tears on My Pillow. 
    Mina grinned broadly at the praise. Then youll love this new 
one, Only You. But it has such a sad ending. 
    They were quiet for a moment, each staring at the other over rim 
of their mugs. Then Mina placed her mug on the counter and walked over 
to Serena and embraced her tightly. 
    I missed you, she whispered hoarsely and Serena felt tears prick 
the back of her eyelids. After they parted, wiped their eyes, and 
shared a round of light laughter, Serena piped up. 
    I have a vacation coming up and I think you should take it. 
    No! I couldnt. Mina said, appalled. 
    Mina, just think of you in my lab performing experiments as me. 
    Mina looked terrified for a moment before regaining her composure 
and agreeing. 
    So what do I need to know? Where do I go?  Serena asked, 
throwing her arms out in a wide gesture. 
    Mina laughed and they both walked back to the couch and sat down. 
For the next hour, Mina explained where her penthouse in New York was, 
details about her close friends, including her agent, Lita Swanson, 
described the plot of her new movie, and gave Serena a ridiculously 
stuffed day planner. As Serena flipped through the jam-packed pages, 
she realized that Mina Kinsley was a very busy woman. 
    They let the air be quiet for a second, each trying to think of 
any last minute details they may have forgotten.  Suddenly, Serenas 
blue eyes widened at a thought. 
    Mina, she cleared her throat and blushed. There isnt anyone 
that you-uh-have intimate relations with that I would be expected to 
    Her twin looked confused before a wave of realization dawned her 
face. Oh, no! No, there isnt anyonewell, theres Darien, but- she 
debated whether or not to tell her sister and then decided not to. 
But hes in the Bahamas and wont be back long after we switch back. 
    Darien Serenas eyebrows furrowed in thought as she recalled 
the name. Darien Eddington? Isnt he in the movie with you? 
    Mina looked uncomfortable for a split second before her trademark 
coolness, which she usually reserved for the press, swept in its 
place. Yes, we met on the set. 
    Serena frowned at what her sister was keeping from her and then 
dismissed it. Two weeks, huh? 
    Mina nodded. Well meet back here at your apartment to switch 
back. 
    Serena nodded also, moving her head slowly. She then thought to 
the reservations she would have to make if she wanted to be back for 
the cast meeting in New York that would take place tomorrow afternoon. 
Or rather, later today. She scurried to the phone and quickly dialed. 
She winked at Mina as the phone was picked up. 
    Hello? This is Mina Kinsley, she rolled her eyes at the 
attendants shock and Mina smothered her snorts. I need a seat on 
your next flight out to New York 

**** 

    Serena stood in the airport nervously, holding her sisters hand 
as they waited for the final boarding call. 
    I cant believe we even think we can pull this off, Serena 
muttered worriedly, fingering her new beading purse Mina had insisted 
on. 
    Relax, Mina took on her usual role as the calmer, cooler one. 
Weve pulled off bigger scams than this. Remember Bobby Franklin? 
    Serena laughed outright. They had made the poor boy think they 
were one person with magical powers to transport themselves 
everywhere. He cried all the way home! 
    They laughed for a moment before silence enveloped them. 
    Announcing the final boarding call for flight 98 going nonstop to 
New York City. The shrill voice came through. 
    Thats me, Serena said unnecessarily. She took a deep breath and 
squeezed her younger sister by two minutes hand. 
    Serena, I promise after this, we'll be as close as two sisters 
can possibly be," Mina sniffed and they wordlessly hooked pinkies and 
crossed an 'X' over their hearts. 
    "Twin sisters," Serena added. "I better go. They probably won't 
hold the plane for even Mina Kinsley!" 
    Mina giggled and pulled Serena in another hug. Serena pulled away 
after a moment and made her way down to the terminal, slightly 
wobbling in the heels that matched the knee-length silver skirt and 
stylish, dark blue top that Mina had also been adamant about. She 
reached the smiling attendant and handed her the ticket. As the woman 
checked it, she turned around to meet Minas tearful eyes. Mina waved 
slowly and Serena gave a watery smile. 
    She headed toward the tunnel like structure that would take her 
into the plane. A few steps later, she halted and slowly turned around 
to look at Mina. I love you, she mouthed and Serena bit her lip 
before whispering: 
    I love you too, Mina. I love you too. 
    And with that Serena Kinsley-now Mina Kinsley-walked with her head 
high toward her new-but temporary-life for the next two weeks. 


