“You can’t be in love!”

*POV* Coral Sparks

I didn't know why, but Randall always seemed to appear at the most random times. "You have been crying, why?" He asked quietly. I couldn't explain it to him. "No reason." I blurted. "When Judy gets back are you going to be in trouble?" I asked genuinely worried.

"Maybe." He said with a chuckle, he was close but I didn't mind. He was the closest thing to a friend I had ever had. "Thank you." I whispered. "For being here. I didn't think he could get to me anymore, but the dreams still…" I realized what I was saying and stopped.

"Who?" I pushed off the counter and walked into the living room. "You can have the bed, I won't want you getting in trouble. I will sleep out here, it's cooler." He didn't press the matter and shook his head.

"No, I wouldn't push you out of the bed. I can take the couch." I sighed and plopped down. "Too late it's taken." His face broke out into a smile. "I guess we will have to share it!" He said as he sat beside me.

"You are stubborn. I am glad you are back." I got off the couch and held a hand to him. "Good night. Just don't wake Lula and Samuel when you have to tell Judy why you are here." He eyed my hand.

"It's called a handshake." I said with a smile as I waggled my fingers. He laughed. He took my hand and held it tight. "I am glad you are feeling better. If you ever need anything, I am here." I smiled back. "Good night Randall…" I pulled my hand and he let go.

Once in the bedroom I shut the door and leaned on it, my heart pounding. I knew this feeling. "You can't be in love. Love doesn't end well.!" I thought bitterly, but it didn't stop the smile that was spreading across my face.

I felt better as I washed and went to bed. I listened for any noise outside my door, but I never heard any.

*POV* Randall Franklin 2nd

"You are kidding right? Mother, you can't be serious!" I practically yelled from the edge of my chair. Lexus agreed with me with a muffled sound from where she was frozen in time in an awkward position. Mother didn't like it much when Lexus started yelling. "I will not hear anymore on the subject, I will be talking to young Mr. Right tonight over dinner on the subject. If we don't get her married someone else will."

"I think the last thing Coral is wanting right now is to have another child!" My mother smiled. "Children can come later, we just need to make sure she is well taken care of and that no one else takes a claim on her." I stared at her in shock about to speak again.

"No more Randall, you go rest I will go see her before I go meet young Mr. Right." She stood and left, once out of the room, Lexus came to life immediately, cursing she ran after our mother.

I sat stunned, when I had come to talk to my parents I hadn't counted on them telling me they were planning on getting Coral married even though they hadn't even met her yet.

Even though they hadn't talked to her yet. A second later Lexus barged back into the office. "Randall we need to talk!" I stood. "What about?" Lexus chuckled dryly. "You know, I could hear what you were thinking, the whole time Mother was talking and I am going to help you!" I laughed

"With what!?" She came to drop an arm around my shoulders. "With you and Coral getting married, of course!" I stared at her, the thought of that had sat in my brain for less than 2 seconds. Why would I go through with it?

Lexus sighed. "I wish you had the power to read minds, it would make life so much easier for me right now. Come on, we have to go see Coral right away!"

When we reached the apartment, to our dismay Mother's car was already parked outside. "Oh no!" I thought as I got out of the car. "We best go in!" Lexus led the way. Reedia stood outside the apartment door on watch.

She let us in with a show of respect. "Mother!" Lexus marched into the room. I was expecting Coral to be crying or something of that nature, but I was surprised to see Mother with her shoes off sitting on the rug in the living room with Lula in her lap. She was laughing.

Coral stood up and greeted us both. "Hi Lexus, I heard you got hurt!" Lexus smiled and gave her a side hug and whispered. "How's it going?" Coral didn't speak and smiled at me. Lexus must have got her answers from Coral's mind because she didn't immediately rip our mother's hair out.

How she had gotten so protective of Coral I didn't know, but Lexus had always been good at taking in strays.

"Why are you two here?" Our mother asked, putting Lula down and getting to her feet. "We came to make sure Coral was doing alright." Mother smiled. "Of course she is doing alright." She smiled at Coral. "It has been a pleasure meeting you dear, I hope you will take me up on my offer of dinner tomorrow."

Coral smiled back. "Sure, I haven't gotten out of here in a while, I am looking forward to it." Lexus and I shared a look. Mother put on her shoes and bid us goodbye before leaving.

"That's your guy's mother??!" Coral asked, surprised as she handed me a random glass of water. "Yeah…" Lexus replied. "She is a beautiful woman, and really kind." I didn't know what side of my mother she was talking about but it didn't seem like her.

"We came to talk to you about something…" Lexus continued. "Oh?" Lexus glanced at me. "Tell her Randall." My eyes widened as she put me on the spot. "Well you see, there is a bit of a problem."