Who's That Girl?/Dialogues

One Saturday afternoon, you're in the bleachers of a minor league baseball game with Payton, Autumn, and Julian.
Autumn: Ooh, nice pitch! The Vikings are on a roll!
MC: I've never seen the Dinos play before. Thanks for inviting us, Julian!
Julian: No prob. When I score game tickets, you guys are my first call.
You hear a resounding crack! The baseball bat clatters to the ground as the runner springs for first base... but he's easily tagged out.
Autumn: Ouch. The Dinos are getting crushed.
Payton: Maybe they just need a little encouragement...
Payton: Woo! Go Dinos! Hit those baseballs!
Payton's shouts are accompanied by scattered applause and tepid cheers from the rest of the crowd.
All around, people are checking their phones, completely disinterested in the game. Even the cheerleaders seem bored until...
Ellie: GOOOOOO DINOS! HOO-RAH!
A girl in a dinosaur mascot costume races past the bleachers, pumping up the crowd! Everyone leaps to their feet, clapping and shouting!
Ellie: Go, go Dinosaurs! Let's hear you ROAAAAR!
Ellie: Time for a dance party in the bleachers! Shake that booty!
The cheerleaders launch into a spirited routine as Ellie cartwheels along the sidelines! She does a series of back flips to wild cheers!
MC: Wow, everyone loves her! Who is she?
Julian: That's Ellie!
You watch the dinosaur mascot, Ellie, do back flips across the field to deafening cheers!
MC: You know her?
Julian: Only by her reputation. She's one of the most popular mascots around.
Payton: Oh, I've heard about her! Isn't she like, a gorgeous supermodel under that Dino mask?
Julian: For real? I thought she was secret royalty from overseas.
Autumn: I heard she's the daughter of a famous actor! Being a mascot is the only way she can go out in public.
MC: Those rumors are wild! They're so...
Choice
What do you say? 
   Cool!
   Weird.
if "Cool!" then
   MC: Celebrity, supermodel, heir to the throne... Ellie could be anyone!
   Autumn: It's almost like she's a superhero, with the mysterious secret identity and everything.
   MC: I bet she's awesome. We've got to meet her after the game.
if "Weird." then
   MC: It doesn't make any sense! Why would a celebrity or a supermodel be at a minor league baseball game?
   Payton: Maybe this is one of her hobbies!
   MC: Whoever she is, we've got to meet her after the game.
The crowd settles down when Ellie finishes her performance. Families begin leaving, until the bleachers are only half full.
Julian: Where's everyone going?
Autumn: I guess some people only showed up to see Ellie!
After the game, you and your friends line up to meet Ellie.
Fans surround her, clutching dinosaur plushies. Ellie signs autographs with her paw and poses for countless photos.
Ellie: Say mac-n-cheese!
When you get to Ellie, she raises her paw for a fist bump!
MC: We loved your cheering out there!
Ellie: Are you kidding? I loved your cheering! You guys were the heroes of the bleachers!
Ellie: It always makes my day to see people get into the game!
Julian: You're a pretty amazing mascot. You dominated the field back there.
Ellie: Aw, thank you! I hope I see your rock star faces at our next game.
MC: For sure. Actually... we're hanging out at the mall tomorrow. Want to come?
Autumn: We'd love to get to know you better.
Payton: And it'll be super fun!
Ellie: Lucky for you, I have a strict yes-on-fun policy. I'll catch you guys tomorrow!
The next morning, you're waiting at the mall entrance with your friends.
Payton: I am so ready to get my shop on with Ellie!
Julian: Yeah, it'll be cool to meet the girl behind the dinosaur.
Autumn: Wait, we've only seen Ellie in her dino costume! How are we gonna recognize her?
You spot a flash of bright blue in the crowd...
MC: I don't think that's gonna be a problem!
Ellie jogs up to you and your friends at the mall entrance, still in her blue dinosaur mascot and varsity jacket.
MC: Hi, Ellie. Glad you could make it!
Ellie: Hey! It's good to see you guys again--
Ellie stretches up, sniffing the air, and you exchange confused looks with your friends.
Ellie: Mm! Do you smell that? Malls always have the absolute best pretzels!
MC: Um, Ellie...
Choice
What do you say? 
   Uh, did you just have practice?
   Why are you wearing THAT?
if "Uh, did you just have practice?" then
   Ellie: Nah, not today. I just rolled out of bed and came straight here!
   MC: Um... sorry if we weren't clear. We didn't expect you to show up on the job. We just want to hang out with you.
if "Why are you wearing THAT?" then
   You gesture to Ellie's mascot costume. She looks down at herself.
   Ellie: Oh, did I get mustard on my jacket again? I always go overboard when I eat hot dogs...
   MC: That's not what I meant... we weren't expecting you to show up on the job. We just want to hang out with you.
Ellie: I wanna hang out with you guys, too! What are we standing around here for? The mall awaits!
Ellie skips ahead, merrily humming a tune. You and your friends follow her into a candy store...
Julian: Mango and chili candy? Man, I gotta try this.
Ellie: That's a sweet combo, but you know what's even better? Sriracha and peanut butter. It's basically life-changing.
Then you stop by a pet store, just in time for a puppy adoption event! One of the puppies jumps all over Ellie, barking happily.
Payton: Ohmygosh, aren't they adorable? They love you, Ellie!
MC: That little guy must think you're a giant dog toy!
Ellie: I'm one-hundred percent okay with that.
At the bike shop, Ellie hops on a display bike and rides it around the store! She pops a wheelie and salutes the employees, who start laughing!
Ellie: Check out my sweet ride! Think I can hit the speed limit with this baby?
Autumn: If you pedal really hard... then just maybe!
MC: Wow, I've never seen someone do a jump on a tiny princess bike!
Ellie: Hey, there's a first for everything! Wanna try?
After you leave the bike shop, you and your friends cut across the mall...
Ellie:Whew. I haven't had this much fun since the time I accidentally joined a clown parade! Thanks for inviting me, MC.
MC: No problem. I swear, everyone seems to love you... even complete strangers.
Ellie: Strangers are just friends you haven't met, you know. Where are we headed next?
Payton: It's time for the main event... shopping for clothes!
Soon, you're in the clothing shop Style Life trying on outfit after outfit with your friends.
Ellie: Whoa, this pinstripe vest is sweet! It looks like something a spy would wear if she were going undercover as a Wall Street executive...
MC: Here's a top hat to go with it.
Ellie pulls the vest over her costume! Then she places the top hat over her mascot head, where it teeters precariously.
Julian: I guess that's one way to try on clothes.
Ellie: Just stay on... I believe in you, Sir Top Hat.
Nearby, a few employees break into giggles at Ellie's antics. Ellie sweeps a bow, and her hat falls off her head! She catches it before it hits the ground.
Ellie: Tada!
Autumn: You make a very debonair dino, Ellie.
Payton: Lemme try on a vest, too. Then we can be twinsies--
Julian: Uh, guys...
Julian taps you on the shoulder. You turn to see Kara making straight for you!
Kara: Is this for real? Are you seriously hanging out with her?
You're trying on clothes with your friends in the clothing shop Style Life, when Kara shows up! She looks over Ellie's outfit and smirks.
Kara: Why am I even surprised? You guys are total losers. Of course you'd hang out with someone like Ellie.
Ellie: Yeah, it's great! We've been having a blast.
Kara: Whatever. I can't believe you wore your weird dinosaur getup to the mall.
MC: Hey...
Choice
   What do you say? 
   It's not weird!
Look who's talking!
if "It's not weird!" then
   MC: Ellie looks just fine. What she wears is none of your business!
if "Look who's talking!" then
   MC: Have you checked the mirror recently? Because that attitude of yours is ugly.
Julian: Not cool, Kara. Did you just come over to be rude?
Payton: Ellie is way more awesome than you. You don't even deserve to be in the same room as her.
Kara: Oh, come on. She wears her mascot costume, like, all the time. It's so weird!
Ellie: Aw, you're pretty unique yourself. I like that flippy ponytail thing you've got going on.
Kara: I-- what?
Kara: See, this is what's wrong with her. She's always wearing that dinosaur head, and she's always so... happy.
Autumn: So what? That's not bad.
Kara: Get a clue. No one is that positive and cheery all the time. She's hiding something behind that--
EllieRoaaar!
Kara: What?! What are you doing? You are seriously weird--
EllieROAR!
Kara: I'm telling you, this girl is hiding something big--
EllieROOOOAAR!
Kara: OMG, I can't deal with this. I'm out of here!
Kara storms off! Ellie flashes you a thumbs up.
Ellie: There's nothing like a nice, long roar to wrap up a conversation.
MC: Nice one! I don't think I've ever seen Kara that confused.
Ellie: Nothing to it. I've dealt with people like her before...
Ellie: Anyway, I'd better get going. Thanks for inviting me to hang out. I'll catch you cool cats later.
Ellie bumps shoulders with you, and then she's gone, walking away with a spring in her step. You remember Kara's parting words...
MC: Guys... what if Ellie is hiding something? What if she's afraid to show us her true self, because she thinks we won't accept her?
Payton: But we totally do!
Autumn: Does she know that, though?
Julian: Maybe not. That would explain a lot.
MC: We'll just have to show her she can trust us... we'll help her feel welcome enough to take off her mask and be her true self!
You send Ellie a text...
MC: 'Wanna hang out this week?'
Dinner
The next evening, Ellie meets you and your friends at a downtown pizza parlor for dinner.
Autumn: Ellie, over here!
MC: I ordered pepperoni, cheese, and veggie. Hope you're cool with one of those.
Ellie: I'll eat any pizza you put in front of me. Pizza is the love of my life.
The pizzas arrive before long, and everyone grabs a slice. Ellie folds hers in two and opens up her dinosaur snout...
Ellie: Nom nom nom... this is so good! It's like an awesome party in my mouth... a birthday party with a bounce house, for sure.
You and your friends share confused looks as Ellie polishes off her pizza slice.
Payton: Um... isn't it kind of hard to eat like that?
Ellie: Nah, I do this all the time! Eating's like a professional sport for me. Thanks for showing me this awesomesauce place, by the way.
MC: Glad you like it! Payton, pass me the chili flakes?
Pool Party
One hot afternoon, you invite Ellie to a pool party at Payton's house. Ellie shows up in her mascot costume. She walks in, wearing sunglasses over her dinosaur mascot head.
Payton: Welcome to the best pool party ever! We've got snacks, music, more snacks...
MC: The bathroom's over there if you want to change into your swimsuit--
Ellie: Nah, I'm good. Now I'm not gonna say that I've got cannonballs down to an art form, but... I totally do.
Ellie: HERE I GOOOOO!
Ellie dives into the pool with a huge splash! She resurfaces and floats back over to you.
Ellie: See? This suit's basically a floatie! Nothing can sink me. Except maybe, like, a huge anvil.
Ellie whirls around and splashes Autumn.
Autumn: Pfffbt! Hey, watch it!
Ellie: Whatcha gonna do about it, huh?
Within minutes, the pool party turns into an all-out water fight!
Julian: There's no escape! Face the wrath of the pool!
Formal Dance
On Friday night, your school hosts a Roaring Twenties dance! You show up to find fairy lights strung up around the quad. Couples dance slowly under the night sky...
You spot Julian in a tuxedo with a bowtie around his neck. He makes a face at you.
Julian: Payton made me do it. I just wanted to show up in my usual, but nooo.
MC: It's not that bad. You look sharp.
Julian: You look pretty fancy yourself. Any sign of our favorite Dino?
Autumn: Guys! Ellie's here!
Ellie catches sight of you and hurries over. She's wearing a flowing silver dress reminiscent of the 1920s style, along with her usual dino mascot head.
MC: I guess she did dress up for this.
Ellie: Wow. I haven't been to one of these things in forever... and I've been missing out! Why are we just standing around the punch bowl like a flock of sleepy flamingos?
Ellie: Let's dance!
You follow Ellie onto the packed dance floor. The music kicks up a notch, and Ellie launches into her cheer routine, perfectly synced with the beat. Soon, everyone's following Ellie's moves!
Ellie: Watch this... I call it the T-Rex Tango!
At the end of the week, you and your friends gather in the Jock Hangout after school.
MC: We spent an entire week with Ellie, and she didn't open up to us once.
Autumn: And she kept her mascot head on the whole time...
Payton: I don't get it. We tried to show her how much we like who she really is... does she just not trust us?
Julian: Maybe Kara's right. What if she's so happy because she's hiding something?
Autumn: Oh, no! What if she's really sad about something? Or constantly doubting herself?
Payton: Or maybe she's covering up her loneliness.
MC: Whatever it is, we've got to help her!
Autumn: How are we gonna help Ellie if she doesn't think she can open up to us?
MC: Trying to make her feel welcome wasn't enough, so I guess we'll just have to tell her directly!
You send Ellie a text asking to meet at a local cafe tomorrow.
MC: Hope this works...
The next day, you grab a seat with Ellie and your friends at a local cafe.
Ellie: What's shakin', bacon?
Autumn: Hey Ellie. We have something to admit.
MC: The truth is... the whole time we were hanging out this week, we wanted to get to know you, the girl behind the mascot.
MC: We were hoping you'd be comfortable enough around us to be yourself.
Autumn: We just want you to know you can trust us. We think you're cool.
MC: Our school is all about accepting people for who they are, no matter what.
Ellie: Oh, I know.
MC: You know?!
Ellie smiles at you from across the cafe table.
Ellie: I knew you guys were trying to make me feel comfortable enough to take off my costume. It was kinda obvious.
MC: Then why didn't you say something?
Ellie: What's there to say? You wanted me to feel welcome, and I do!
Autumn: But you're still wearing your mask... we want you to be yourself around us.
Ellie: Exactly! This is who I am.
Julian: You're... a dinosaur?
Ellie: On the inside, Julian. On the inside. I'm goofy, weird, and always ready to cheer. Plus, I've got a fantastic sense of smell!
Ellie: I'm a mascot at heart, so why not dress how I feel?
Payton: Ooh, I get it! It's like when I wear pencil skirts for math tests to show I'm all business!
Ellie: Right. This is how I show the world who I am. People can take it or leave it.
MC: So... you're not hiding anything?
Ellie: Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
Autumn: But what about the rumors? Are you secretly the daughter of a celebrity or a member of the royal court?
Ellie: Nuh-uh. I'm the queen of eating ice cream, but I don't think that counts.
Julian: I knew we shouldn't have listened to Kara...
MC: You know, we always try to encourage people to be themselves, but maybe we need to take it to the next level. What if we convinced everyone to wear what they feel on the inside?
Payton: Oooh oooh! It'll be our best party theme yet!
MC: What do you say, Ellie? Wanna help us throw a 'Be Yourself' party?
Ellie: Do you even have to ask?
That night, Payton throws a party at her house! Your classmates arrive in all kinds of costumes, excited to show off who they are!
You walk up to Julian, who has on shoulder pads and lines of black under his eyes.
MC: Nice costume. I should have known you'd show up as a football warrior!
Julian: Thanks. What are you?
MC: I'm a...
Choice
What's your costume? 
   Spaceship commander! 
   Style icon! 
   Sports champion!
if "Spaceship commander!" then
   MC: Ensign Nebula, reporting for duty!
   You point to the Saturn pin on your futuristic blue and black suit.
   Julian: The outer space look suits you.
if "Style icon!" then
   MC: In my opinion, Fashion Week should be every week.
   You adjust your faux fur jacket and click your knee-high boots together.
   Julian: You really do look like a style icon!
if "Sports champion!" then
   MC: Check it out. I've got all the awards.
   You point to the many medals around your neck.
   Julian: You look like you just crushed it at the Olympics!
Ellie: Everyone here looks so... amazing. I feel like I know you guys even better now!
Payton and Autumn show up arm in arm. Payton's decked out in wings and a princess gown, while Autumn is in a flowing dress, with an intricate daisy crown braided into her hair.
MC: Let me guess... fairy princess and flower child. How'd you get all those daisies in your hair, Autumn?
Autumn: Lots and lots of braiding. Payton helped.
Payton: I like to think I added a little fairy princess magic to your look.
MC: I'd totally do this again! Dressing the way you feel on the inside is pretty great.
Ellie: Now you know how I feel. You do you, MC.
Later in the night, you talk to Ellie as the party winds down.
Ellie: Going back to school on Monday is going to be so boresville after this.
MC: Oh, right. You have your own school...
MC: To be honest, I was kind of hoping this party would persuade you to transfer here.
Ellie: Persuade? Why didn't you just ask?
MC: You mean that's all I had to do?
Ellie: Yeah! Duh.
MC: Oh... then, do you want to transfer to our school?
Ellie: Obviously! Sign me up!
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