Empire Waist

Look at her bounce.

Hey, Chuck E. Cheese!

If you could have any superpower in the world,

what would it be?

Flight? Super strength?

Invisibility?

Turns out making yourself invisible isn't that hard.

First, you need camouflage.

Wear all black and you're basically a human shadow.

And when it comes to eye contact, don't make any.

Keep your head down with a hobby that looks like schoolwork.

And most importantly, avoid people in general.

Full fat yogurt, Honor? Really?

My mom packed my lunch! I'll find a new mom.

Yeah, thank you.

They can't hurt you if they can't see you.

Unfortunately, you can't avoid all people,

like your workout obsessed mother.

Hi, honey. Woo!

Or your sedentary father hiding snacks from that mother.

Oh, hey.

Fixing this light again.

Got any homework?

Okay, see you!

Love you, hon!

And that's it,

one more day of invisibility in the books.

And the rest of the day is yours.

But no matter how hard you try,

some things are too beautiful

to stay tucked away.

Lenore?

Lenore?

Lenore!

Do you have a partner?

For what?

Everyone's pairing up for presentations.

Stick with me, okay?

All right, I need a group of three.

This isn't difficult, folks.

I can just work by myself.

Nice of you to join us, Kayla.

God, the pleasure's all mine, Ms. Hall!

You do know that attendance isn't optional.

You know me, more of a special appearances type of gal.

You want to make a special appearance at graduation?

Yes.

Then you need to complete the group project.

You're working with Lenore.

Who?

Oh, that Lenore.

Hey, girl!

Have you been in this class all year?

How could you miss her?

You two will be presenting

on the migration pattern of blue whales.

That's enough!

You know what, there are plenty of other topics to cover,

so we'll just pick another one.

Why?

Whales are majestic creatures, kings and queens of the sea.

I want to do our presentation on whales.

Okay.

This is going to be the best presentation

you've ever seen, Ms. Hall.

All right, Kayla.

You'll be talking about it for years.

Just make sure that you include your partner

in this presentation of the decade.

So.

Should we meet up after school?

Your house?

Okay, bye!

You paired me with Lenore?

She's creepy quiet.

She's shy, okay?

And there's nothing wrong with being quiet.

My grandmama says that we can never trust the quiet ones.

Your grandma learned English watching Mime or Murderer.

He escaped on the elevator,

but there was no elevator!

Doesn't mean she's wrong.

Kayla, this is your third time taking my class.

I thought you said you loved having me in your class.

The first time, yeah.

But I don't want to fail you a third time.

I know it's been a hard few years for you and your family.

That kind of loss, I can't even-

No.

It's okay.

I'll pair up with Lenore.

But if I get murdered,

you'll have to tell my grandmama I told you so.

You're not going to get murdered!

Oh god, please don't get murdered.

Your mystery friend will not be able to resist

my 12 grain smoothie,

because I won't let her.

She's not my friend,

we're just working on a school project together.

I need you to not be weird.

I'm not weird.

I believe the politically correct term is quirky.

Oh, I'm designing a logo for a cruise company.

I'm trying to get inspired.

Dad, can you please not be quirky in front of Kayla?

I'll have you know that this quirky guy's side hustle

inspired you to design clothing, young lady.

Honey, I love you,

but you screen print punny T-shirts in the basement.

These punny T-shirts

are going to put Lenore through college.

Really?

Well, that and my full-time job, and your full-time job.

Okay, I need a taste tester.

Pass.

Come on, you don't know what you're missing.

This smoothie will boost your metabolism

and has a day's worth of grains in one glass.

And tastes like a rabbit threw up.

I thought I said that in my head.

- I'll get it. - Wait, Mom!

- Yeah? - Hold on! Stop!

Hi, is Lenore home?

- Yes, and you must be... - This is Kayla.

My god, she speaks. Hello, partner.

Come in.

So many colors.

Ahoy there, Kayla.

Lenore, who is Captain Jamba Juice

and what is he doing in your home?

Dad, we talked about this.

I'm just being polite.

Avast, ye matey!

Welcome.

Yeah, okay, that's not going to work.

Wow.

You really like dolls.

- What? - Dolls.

They're everywhere.

Oh, yeah.

Do you collect them or make them talk to each other?

I don't make them talk to each other.

Okay, I wasn't judging, I just think it would be

really cool if that was the way that you communicated.

I don't use dolls to communicate.

Obviously not.

Look at us, talking like old friends.

Speaking of things you would give old friends,

do you have any snacks?

You want my mom's 12 grain smoothie?

My max is 10.

My sneaky hero. What else you got?

- Nothing. - That good, huh?

Kayla, there's nothing. I don't have any more snacks.

Lenore, we're biology partners.

No secrets here!

Where did you get all of these?

Nowhere.

- You stole them! - What?

Yeah, no wonder you don't talk.

Scared of being identified

in this fashion smuggling ring you've got going on.

Kayla!

There was an unmarked van out front when I got here.

Do you think that they're watching your house?

What?

Off the record, I would make a great accomplice.

I made them, okay?

You made them?

Yeah.

How can you make all these clothes and dress like...

Okay, don't take this the wrong way,

but you kind of dress like a widowed mall walker.

How can I not take that the wrong way?

It's constructive criticism.

Whenever I see you wearing your grief tracksuit,

I can't help but picture an old woman

stress walking through the food court

trying to forget the beau that she lost at sea.

Who taught you how to do all this, anyway?

My dad.

Skipper?

Yeah, he's a graphic designer,

so he taught me how to make outfits

for my paper dolls when I was a kid.

I got pretty obsessed, so he got me a sewing machine,

and I kind of figured it out on my own.

You definitely did. Why don't you wear them?

My clothes are fine.

Well, mine aren't.

They never have anything I want in my size.

But if I could wear something like this,

something that fits and looks good

and has enough wiggle room for my ma'ams.

Ma'ams?

It's what I call my boobs.

Lenore, can you make me a dress?

Why?

Why not?