I Love You Like RedVines (A Joey Richter Love Story)

I groaned as my alarm clock went off. I smashed the off button. I had to get to work before Mr. Schmidt fired me. He'd threatened me enough. I may hate my job, but I can't bear to lose it. Living is expensive, especially when you're in college.

I pulled on chocolate brown scrubs and a pair of worn Converse. My light brown hair complimented the scrubs nicely, in my opinion. I braided my hair down my shoulder, and stuck a bright yellow flower in it. I grabbed my yellow handbag, too. Yellow was my favorite color. It was so warm, and reminded me of sunshine.

I listened to the light snoring in the room next to me. I guess KiKi was still asleep. I was almost out the door when Livvy meowed loudly. I sighed.

"Livvy, do you ever quit eating?" I asked, smiling in spite of myself. She meowed in response. "I'll take that as a no." I refilled her bowl and her water dish, and headed out the door. Time to walk all the way to the doctor's office I worked at.

Why I hate my job? Well, giving little kid a shots can only be fun for so long. Plus, I was super shy, and didn't like talking to people much. I rarely felt comfortable around people.

It was only a mile to the office, but it felt like forever when you had to walk it every morning. I needed a car. Too bad I don't have any money.

"Morning, Dr. White," I greeted one of the doctors.

"Oh, good morning. . . ." he muttered as he walked off. I sighed. Better go clock in, I guess. I checked in with the front desk, and they handed me a clipboard of the people who had signed in. First name was someone named "Joseph Walker."

I opened the door to the lobby and called, "Joseph Walker?" A tall, muscly guy dark hair hidden under a hat got up with with a short brunette girl. "Sir, we would prefer your girlfriend not come back with you," I said politely.

"Girlfriend?! Ick," the girl commented.

"I need her for moral support. I hate doctors," Joseph said.

"Oh, alright then. Looks like you're due for your tetanus shot. . . ." I muttered, flipping through his chart.

"Ha," the girl said.

"Shut up, Lopez."

"Only if you do, Walker."

"You'll be in here. I'll administer your shot then send Dr. McCoy in. I'll be right back."

"Thank you. . . ." He squinted at my name tag. "Katrina."

"It's Kat," I said, strolling out. I left his chart in the room and grabbed alcohol wipes and the needle. I had a feeling this guy just might be worse than a five year old when it came to shots. Tetanus shots hurt, too. I groaned internally.

"Okay, sir, if you'll roll up your sleeve," I said, laying the instruments down. He grimaced and rolled it up his forearm. "Up to your shoulder, please," I said, unwrapping a wipe.

"Its going to hurt, isn't it?"

"A little, but it will be over soon."

"Don't worry, just think of how much pain your arm will be in when you're singing with Brosenthal. Voldemort isn't supposed to feel pain. He's the Dark Lord. Just get in character; we're late for rehearsal, anyway," the girl told him.

"You can call me Voldemort, we're there. We've reached that point," he said in a funny voice.

"Sir, can you stop moving, please?" I asked. He shrugged and quit talking. These people sure were weird. 

I was about to put the needle in, when he yelled, "STOP!" I jumped, and looked at him. "Do I have to get a tetanus shot?"

"Man up," the girl said.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but it's mandatory."

This led to an argument between Joseph and the girl. I waited patiently for it to end, but it seemed endless. After about ten minutes, I asked impatiently, "Will y'all please quit bickering?"

"Y'all? Where are you from?" the girl asked curiously.

"Georgia. I moved when I was little, so most of my accent's gone."

"You could be Cho Chang!" Joseph yelled.

"Excuse me? Isn't Cho Chang Asian?" I asked.

"Not in A Very Potter Musical."

"What?"

"Its a play. Do you go to Michigan?"

"Um, yes. I'm a sophomore. Sir, I really need to give you this shot, the doctor will be here any minute and-"

"What major?"

"History, but sir-"

"You should go-"

"WALKER!" the girl yelled. "Shut up and quit stallion and get your shot! I bet Joey's missing out on flipping you off." Huh, sounds like the Joey I used to know. Joey Richter. We were best friends in middle and high school.

"Richter'll be fine," Joseph grumbled.

"Did you say Joey Richter?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Um, dark hair and eyes, insanely funny, crooked jaw?" I asked.

"Yep. Why?"

"He used to be my best friend," i said sadly. My phone had fallen into the lake and messed up the memory card, so I couldn't put his number into my new phone.

"Thats so cool!" the girl yelled.

"Um, yeah. If y'all would please just let me put this shot in. . . . The doctor's going to be in here any minute. I need this job-"

Dr. McCoy came in then. "Katrina, you haven't even given him his shot yet? Im sure Mr. Schmidt would like to hear about this," he said.

"I- I was about to give it to him. He, um, had a lot of allergies I had to write down," I lied.

"His chart is empty."

"I- I'll go see Mr. Schmidt," I said, head hanging. I trudged out the door. I knocked timidly on his door.

"Ah, Katrina, Dr. McCoy called. It seems this has been the fifth slip up. I'm sorry to say you have been . . . fired." Just like that? It can happen that fast?

"Yes, sir," I said. "I'll- I'll get my things." I walked by the room I had been in earlier, and heard the girl yelling at Joseph.

"That's the Kat Joey's been talking about! And you just got her fired! How does that make you feel?"

"Um, I dunno."

"Ugh! You're impossible!" she exclaimed. I sighed, and began shoving my few possessions I kept here in a cardboard box. I texted Ryan, my boyfriend, and told him. I knew he couldn't pick me up, so I'd have to walk home.

I think that's everything. . . . My locket! I'd been looking everywhere for that! Joey got that for me during high-school graduation! I fastened it quickly around my throat. I looked around the office once more, sighed, and left. One mile to go.

When I was about half a mile away, a car pulled up. "Hey, Kat!" the girl who helped get me fired called. Joseph was driving.

"Er, hi," I muttered, continuing in my trek.

"Wanna come to rehearsal with us and see Joey?!" she asked. "We'll drive you!" she added.

"Er, I don't feel comfortable getting in a car with strangers. . . ."

Joseph snorted. "Strangers?! I'm Joe Walker and she's Lauren Lopez. There, we're introduced."

"Uh, I don't think-" Before I could finish, the door opened, and Joe pulled me in, box and all, and drove off.

"Lopez, get her in the back!" he yelled.

"Whatever."

"Are y'all kidnapping me?!"

"Technically, I suppose. But it's for the good. You'll see Joey."

"Take me back to my apartment right now! I have to feed Livvy, and tell KiKi to get a job, and go out with Ryan, and find a job, and-"

"You talk a lot," Lauren noted. I blushed and shut my mouth. Joe was driving like a maniac, so we got there in about five minutes. "Here we are," Lauren announced brightly. I texted Ryan frantically, telling him to save me from these kidnappers.

They let me out of the car, and I immediately sprinted in the other direction. Joe grabbed me and slung me over his shoulder.

"Put me down!" I squealed, beating on his back with my fists.

He and Lauren walked in, yelling, "Delivery for Joey Richter!"

That interrupted a rousing chorus of Joey singing, "I think I'm falling in love, falling in love, falling in love-"

"JOEY!" Lauren yelled. "WE FOUND SOMEONE FOR YOU!"

"Put me down!" I yelled. Joe complied, and I thought about bolting towards the exits, but there were people staring at me. There were several people on a stage, some other people bustling about, and there he was. Joey Richter.

"Katrina Anderson!" Joey yelled, leaping off the stage.