Maika and the others sat at a large table in the back, everything was covered in sports themed pictures and most of the food was given sports names. She looked at the menu curiously, she seen fast food on TV, but she's never actually had it before. There was a fast food chain back home, but it was more of a cheap knockoff of popular American fast food chains. Plus, Maika's mom rarely ever let her or her sister eat fast food.
"What do you recommend for someone who's never had fast food before?" Maika asked.
"Start with something simple, like a burger and fries," Michelle said.
"You do know what a burger is right?" Logan asked.
"Yeah I do, I've just never had one," Maika said.
"It's just meat, veggies, cheese and bread, and sometimes bacon. It's pretty standard North American food," Hayley said.
"Okay, a burger and fries it is then," Maika decided.
"Hey guys what's up?" A familiar voice asked.
They turned to see their friend Julio from the movies, his regular outfit was a pink t-shirt with a pair of olive cargo shorts and red/black sneakers.
"Hey Julio done with your shift?" Aaron asked.
Julio nodded, "Yep and now it's time for this wolf to relax."
They made some space for him at the table, he sat next to Sam and Michelle and they gave him a menu. He turned his attention to Maika and gave her a warm smile.
"Hey, Maika, sorry I didn't get to introduce myself properly, but in case you forgot my names Julio," Julio said reintroducing himself.
Maika smiled, "Hi Julio, how was your shift?"
Julio chuckled, "Same old, same old, just giving customers their tickets, nothing exciting really."
"It sounds like an interesting job," Maika said.
Before she could get another word out, a waitress came over to take their orders.
"Welcome to El Sporto's what would you like to eat?" She asked.
"I'll take a cheeseburger and fries please," Sam said.
"Gotcha, what about you hun?" She asked Aaron.
"The kitchen sink nachos," Aaron said.
Everyone got their orders, when the waitress got to Maika, she felt herself suddenly freeze up.
"What would you like sweetie?" The waitress asked.
Maika blushed, "Um….could I get…..the cheeseburger and fries?"
"Coming right up," The waitress said as she left.
Maika felt embarrassed, why is she so anxious? She was just ordering a burger and fries it wasn't like she was asking for nuclear waste.
"You okay Maika?" Michelle asked.
"Yeah, I guess I'm not really used to ordering food at a restaurant before," She said.
"Have you never eaten out before?" Julio asked.
"I have, but I don't do it very often, the only times we really go out to eat is when something good happens, which is rare," Maika said.
"How often does good news happen?" Sam asked.
"Not very, the last good news we receive was moving here and that was several months ago, getting your papers signed and approved to come here isn't an easy or quick process," Maika said.
"If your coming from an isolated country, it must've taken ages," Hayley said.
Maika giggled, "You have no idea."
"Now that you're here, was the process worth it?" Michelle asked.
She smiled, "It was."
They continued to talk, they shared random stories and told Maika about growing up in this mall, and what its been like. Hayley is Jen's cousin and Jonesy's step cousin and Michelle is Nikki's younger sister; considering how much their older siblings spend so much time here, Maika could imagine this place being a home away from home. However, while they swapped stories, she couldn't help but feel very out of place, somehow it was like she didn't belong here. Here they are talking about their childhood friendship and how much this mall means to them, and here she was feeling like a third wheel.
Maika peered down into her drink glass with a small frown forming on her lips, she wondered what it felt like to have best friends since childhood. From what she's hearing it must be amazing knowing that the person your close to when your little is still by your side thick and thin. Someone at the table must've noticed her looking sad, because the next thing she knew all eyes were on her.
"Maika is everything alright?" Sam asked.
She glanced up from her glass, "Oh, uh yeah I'm fine."
They didn't buy that for a second
"No something's wrong what's up?" Aaron asked.
She bit her lip, "I feel like a third wheel."
"Why do you say that?" Hayley asked.
"Hearing you guys talk about what this place means to you and how much you've grown up here is really sweet and I'm happy to hear, but a part of me feels like I don't belong here," Maika admitted shamefully.
Sam smiled, "Yes you do, you totally belong here."
Maika disagreed, "I don't think I do."
"Just because we've just met you doesn't mean you don't belong here; it just means that your adventure is just starting," Sam said.
Maika didn't think of it like that, maybe she was right, but doubt still clouded her mind. She wanted to believe her, really, she did but it was difficult.
"It seems hard to believe at first, but you'll feel so happy that you came here, and met us of course," Aaron grinned.
Maika giggled, "Well I am glad that I met you guys, honesty your one of the first friends I've really ever had."
"Do you not have friends in North Korea?" Julio asked.
Maika shook her head, "No, back home almost everyone at my old school avoided me like the plague."
"Why is that?" Michelle asked.
"I had quote, 'radical ideas' about our so-called leader and have a 'dangerous mind'," Maika said.
Logan laughed, "Seriously? Your kidding, right?"
Maika shook her head, "I wish I was, but sadly if you're not bowing down to the devil who sits on the throne, you're a parasite."
They were speechless, they had no idea what Maika had to go through back home, but they were going to make sure she was going to have a better life here.
"Well you don't have to worry about that here, you can speak your mind with no fear of any kind of dictator," Sam said.
"Unless you count Ron," Hayley joked.
They laughed, Maika felt a sense of relief and comfort wash over her; they really were the best friends anyone could ask for. Maybe she is where she belongs.
Maika held up her glass, "Hey why don't we do a toast, to friendship."
"Great idea," Logan said holding up his glass.
They all raised their glasses and said with excitement in their voices,
"Friendship!"
The night carried on with funny stories, good food and good friends. Once everyone was done with their dinner, they paid the bill and headed out.
"I really had fun," Maika said.
"I'm glad, will we see you tomorrow?" Hayley asked.
Maika nodded, "For sure."
Maika heard her mom's car pulled up to the side, she glanced over and saw Lily waving at her.
She bid her new friends goodbye and stepped into the car,
"So how was your day out with Hayley?" Lily asked.
She smiled, "It was great, and I think I made some more friends."
Lily smiled back, "That's wonderful sweetie."
"Yeah, maybe things here won't be so bad after all," Maika said.
"I'm so glad, wasn't moving here a great idea?" Lily asked.
Maika nodded, "Yeah, it was."
She leaned into her seat and fell asleep with a small smile on her lips, maybe things won't be so horrible in Canada.
End of Chapter 7 looks like things are turning around for Maika, and for the better.