John followed Bobby into the small Chinese restaurant. It had been John's idea to get out of the mansion; it was Bobby's not to do anything illegal. Bobby had come to the school a couple days after John, and the boys had become instant friends; although they wouldn't have admitted it at the time. They were complete and total opposites, when John was fighting, Bobby was talking. The only thing that wasn't different about them was their energy; both could be much more than handfuls for their exhausted teachers.
"I hate Chinese." John grumbled as they found a small booth. "This is not what I meant when I said get out of the mansion!"
"I know, but it's better then still being there." Bobby retorted sitting down.
The waitress smiled as she walked over to them, "You not having a good day?" John's eyes shot up, he couldn't place it but the little brown head in front of him seemed way to familiar. "What can I get you?"
Bobby placed their order while John tried to remember, though nothing he was coming up with sounded right. She seemed about his and Bobby's age, almost 16. And all the kids he knew where at the mansion, not working Chinese.
John pushed the girl from his mind as he and Bobby ate. After a while the boys started one of their ever-recurring arguments. "What a way to make friends, John." Both stopped talking (more like soft yelling) and turned. Their waitress was standing next to the table with their bill.
"Do I know you?" John asked bewildered.
The girl laughed, "Maybe, maybe not." She set down the bill and walked away, still laughing.
John frowned, what and odd…. "Wendy! Wendy Dayton."
Wendy stopped walking turned and laughed, "Hello, John Allerdyce." She nodded to Bobby, "Ya know if you want friends you'd better try smiling." She laughed then headed back to the kitchens.
"You know her?" Bobby asked completely confused.
John shook his head, "Not really." Suddenly he hit Bobby's head. "Let's go!" He stood up, dropped money on the table and headed for the door.
"Where?" Bobby hesitated then rushed to catch up.
"No questions."
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Three months later found John kicking grass at a city park, not completely far from the mansion. With a huff he dropped to the ground by the small lake. "So did your dazzling smile work?"
"Yea so well, he's replacing me with a girl," Sarcasm poured off each word. John turned as Wendy sat next to him. "Why are you here?"
"I decided to take a walk," Wendy smiled, "Is it a new girl?"
John wrinkled his nose, "Yea, Rouge. I don't like her, and she don't like me."
"But you both like Bobby?" Wendy laughed at Johns disgusted look, "I mean your Bobby's friend right?"
"Yea," John answered reluctantly.
Wendy smiled, "Try and be nice then."
John shrugged, "What about you?"
"What abut me?"
"You 'rescue' people at malls, work at a Chinese restaurant, and give council in parks. Where do you live? Go to school?"
Wendy turned and pointed to one of the tall buildings in the distant city. "I live there, and I was… home schooled and graduated early."
"Home schooled?"
Wendy nodded then stood up, "I'd better get going," she started to walk away then turned around, "By the way, John, Happy Birthday."