They continue on.

Chapter 12: Close Encounter

Randall had walked in, wearing sunglasses. He was refusing to take them off. Sulley had went up to him.

"Randall? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Sullivan. Why do you care?"

"Well, you can't see when you're wearing sunglasses in a kid's room."

"I'll manage."

Randall had started to walk off, but Sulley grabbed his arm and pulled him back, taking the sunglasses off.

"No! Don't!" Randall exclaimed.

The moment the glasses came on, everyone gasped. Randall had a black eye. The lizard monster placed a hand over it, turning away.

"Randall, what happened?" Claws asked.

"I uh… tripped and ran into the door. I'll be fine."

Randall had pulled away. He grabbed the sunglasses and placed them back on his face, covering his eyes.

"Now, I'm busy. Let me do my job and I'll let you do yours."

Everyone watched in worried as Randall worked. He had trouble seeing the whole time and got more bruises each time he tried to scare. But lunch time, he was a battered monster. Randall was sent to Roz's office to get treated. Everyone was in the cafeteria, ready for the next chapter. Seymour took the book.

"I got this. Chapter 12: Close Encounter

I knew running away was wrong. I did. But I couldn't go back to the orphanage. I couldn't. It always seemed that the bad stuff happened to me. I didn't know why. Was it because I was born on Friday the thirteenth? Because I was born prematurely? Because I was born into an abusive family? I didn't know and I think didn't want to anyways. Fungus had handed me a glass of milk, sitting next to me.

"Randall, I know you have to do this, but the running away? Emilia and Cheryal must be worried sick! This guy could hold them accountable for you running off! And I have no idea if you're grandma is coming or not. Randall, do the smart thing. Go home, please."

"No! I'm not going home!" I replied stubbornly.

"Randall, please!" Fungus begged.

"I said no, Fungus. I'm not going home till grandma gets here. I'm not going back to the orphanage, and I'm not going to let that man take me away!"

Fungus let out a sigh. I knew he was upset about this, but I couldn't go back. Not yet. Something was wrong, I could feel it. There was a knock on the door and Fungus went over to the door and opened it, seeing Cheryal's mom.

"Hello, Mrs. Boggs." Fungus replied.

"Hello Fungus, is Randall still here?"

"Yes'm. He's on the couch." Fungus replied, stepping out of the way.

Grammy, that's what I call her, walked in. She went over to the couch and sat next to me.

"Randall, what's this about you running away?" She asked, putting a tentacle around my shoulder.

"This man was going to take me away. Back to the orphanage. I don't want to go back there, it's a horrible place. You're a lawyer, Grammy. Can't you do something to make sure that he won't do it? Please?"

"I'll see what a can do, but I can't make any promises, only that I can make sure justice is done." She told me.

I let out sigh.

"Come along," she replied, holding her tentacle out for me to grab. "We're going someplace, and make sure you get your bag too."

I took it and went off to get Teddy and my stuff. When I came back, she grabbed my hand; thanking Fungus's parents for letting me stay and left the house. I got in the car and buckled myself in. Grammy got in, buckled herself in, and drove away. I looked at the floor.

"Randall, I know you don't like the orphanage. I wouldn't blame you. But running away, that's not a good thing. Emilia and Cheryal must be worried sick. They might've thought you've been kidnapped, or worst. You have to think about these things."

"I know… and I'm sorry. I just didn't want to be taken away. I'm sorry Grammy."

"I know you are."

The rest of the trip was spent in silence. Butterflies were in my stomach as we drove home. I knew I was going to be in lots of trouble when I got home, but it was going to be all worth it if I get to stay with Emilia and Cheryal. We arrived back at the house. Grammy pulled me out and walked into the house.

"Emilia, Cheryal! I have something that belongs to you." Grammy replied, pushing me in front of her.

"Randall!" They exclaimed, running over to me and started the stuffing out of me.

I winced in pain. I was too thin to be hugged normally because all it did was cause hurt me. My bones were too thin and brittle. So I had to stay away from rough sports like football, not that I really played. I wasn't much of a football player.

"That's nice, now it's time for me to take the brat… I mean angel back to the orphanage." Mr. Slugworth replied, grabbing my arm and pulled me away from Emilia and Cheryal.

"No!" I exclaimed pulling back. "Grammy! Help!"

"Excuse me, Mr. Slugworth is it? Well I am a lawyer and my young client has informed me that he was legally adopted, so under the law you have no right to take him. And I have witness that they have taken very good care of him. He is fed nutritious meals, taken to regular doctor check-ups, going to school. They've been raising him pretty well."

"Well I got a call that they were abusing and not watching him properly."

"Who told you that?"

"I can't say, except that he was rich."

"Spencer McDouglus!" I shouted. "Don't listen to that backstabbing, two-faced snob! He don't know what he's talking about!"

"You know the son?" Mr. Slugworth asked.

"He's a jerk!"

"Randall!" Cheryal scowled, "You know we don't talk that way about people."

"Well he is!" I replied.

"Well… if you're sure they're good parents…" Mr. Slugworth muttered, releasing my arm.

I ran over to Emilia, jumping into her arms as she hugged me. I smiled, looking up at her with wet eyes. I couldn't believe it! I was staying! I didn't have to go back to that roach and rat infested place! Or get picked on and pushed around, it was like a dream come true! Emilia and Cheryal kissed me, causing me to cling onto them. I didn't want to lose them ever again. They were the best thing that ever happened to me. Losing them was like dying and I couldn't stand that."

"Wow, I never met anyone that would die for their parents…" George mused.

"Randall seems like he's too clingy to them. If I was them, I couldn't take it." Mike replied.

"Well you can't blame him Googly," Celia replied. "He was abused was as a small child, forced to move to an orphanage where no one would pay any attention to him, adopted and beaten by several bullies, kidnapped, I can see why he would be so clingy to them."

Everyone looked to see Randall across the room to see Randall sitting next to Fungus, bandages and bruises covering him. They couldn't believe that this independent monster was actually a sensitive damaged kid willing to do anything for his parents.

Thank god for grandmother's, they are able to save the day! Especially if one is lawyer. What will they learn next about the lizard monster?