[ WP ] There are 3 characters that come into contact with each other at least once . They are Rock , Paper , and Scissors .

Everyone at school used to call me stupid. I was not stupid, I just grew faster than anyone else and looked like I had been kept back a few years. Adults were not much better. They saw a 20 something that acted 16. I WAS 16. It hurt me more than I realised at the time. My grades started to suffer, which seem to prove everybody right, and I started lashing out. Not at people, at inanimate objects. 
 
 The bullies soon worked out that I was an easy target. They would call me names, steal my stuff and knock my food out of my hands. I would just walk away broken, find an alleyway and beat the heck out of a dumpster, or worse, put my fist through a window. `` I'' was the problem kid. Vandalism, poor academic achievement, even branded `` special'' by my chemistry teacher. 
 
 The worst of the bullies was Scissors. He did not look much, but he had a tongue on him. Whoever he targeted, he knew exactly what to say to cut them. He had some hard-ass cronies to back him up, so he never got what was coming to him. If anyone tried, they would get a pasting. 
 
 He especially liked to pick on the arty kids. Having no talent of his own, I guess he was jealous. That, or they were as easy targets as me. Every time he saw Paper, he would say something to make her eyes well up, but she always looked him in the eyes in defiance. He would push past her, knocking her books to the floor. I hated that guy. Paper was always kind to me. 
 
 One sunny day I was crossing the yard, and I could see Paper winding her way back to class. Even though she must have been struggling to carry her large portfolio, she looked a peace, sunlight streaking flames across her deep red hair. My trance was broken when Scissors showed up. Deliberately blocking her path, winged by his henchmen, he just stood there. I could not hear what he was saying, only by the look on Paper's face I could tell that she was unimpressed and having none of it. Perhaps through instinct, I can not remember, but I was a great deal closer than I was before. When Scissors slapped the portfolio to the ground, I could clearly hear Paper cry `` No!''. I was a damn-sight closer when Scissors raised his foot to trample what looked like a watercolour of a woman's face. Close enough to hear Paper scream. Close enough to punch Scissors in the mouth, knocking him on his ass. His cronies just ran. I did say I was big. Apparently, I also looked like I could murder Scissors. 
 
 Maybe I would have killed him. Years of frustration was in that punch. One broken jaw; three missing teeth. Before anyone could know what would happen next, Paper threw her arms around me. As light as a feather, with all the power of a lightning strike, her kiss on my cheek took my breath away. Her deep green eyes imprinted on my soul as she whispered `` Thank you, Rock''. 
 
 With her arms around me then, and 20 years on they still are, I was and always will be at peace. 

