For the next few weeks Rimmer lived his life in a trance, sometimes going for days without speaking. The bullies sensed this change in Rimmer and, to snap him out of it, beat him up more often. Still Rimmer didn't respond, and the bullies got bored, what was so good about beating someone up if they didn't beg for you to stop or cry. It was boring if they just sat back and accepted it, so they left him alone. It was in the middle of a geography class, usually Rimmer's favourite subject, when he took notice of what the teacher was saying for the first time in weeks. He was crouched over his desk, copying Elizabeth's name onto his arm, when the teacher grabbed his attention.

"Next week, class we'll be going on a geography trip to study trees and nature in Io central park" Rimmer's head snapped off the desk, he stared at the teacher, hanging onto her every word. Rimmer knew that the chances of meeting Elizabeth were minimal, but he could still hope, and even if he doesn't see her, he can just recall the place where for 5 blissful minutes, he was happy. Rimmer spent the rest of the week in joyful anticipation, while on the bus to central park, Rimmer could hardly sit still, and he was the first to get off the bus. The boys were put into pairs and they entered through the iron gates of Io central park.

He gazed longingly at the bench where he and Elizabeth had introduced themselves. For a moment he swore he could see an image of Elizabeth, smiling, holding out her hand for him to take. Rimmer stepped forward but was abruptly dragged away by one of the boys. He sat grumpily on the grass, staring at the bench, which was now 200 or so metres away. A piece of plain paper was handed to Rimmer by Miss Robbins, the geography teacher, along with a small smile.

For 30 minutes Rimmer forgot his troubles and was absorbed in sketching, shading, and drawing. He only stopped when his hand was throbbing so violently that Rimmer was sure it would explode, he allowed his eyes to roll over to the bench, his bench, his and Elizabeth's bench. He was disgusted to see that Butcher had somehow slipped away from the group and was now sat on 'their' bench. He was chatting up an unwilling girl. Butcher was only just 14 yet he could pass for a 18 year old, he was huge, not only in height but in build, it looked as though he'd been fed steroids as a baby instead of milk. To Rimmer it was like watching a bulldog try to chat up a butterfly. Butcher was leaning in front of the girl, obliterating her from Rimmer's view, it was only when she got angry and forced Butcher away when Rimmer realised it was Elizabeth, she was trembling and even from this distance Rimmer could tell she was upset. Rimmer's brain switched off and a cave man instinct took over; anger, hatred, fear and an urge to protect surged through Rimmer's body. He stormed over to Butcher and the sobbing Elizabeth.

"What do you think your doing!?! Get off her!" he said, in Rimmer's head he sounded fearless, confident, strong, he was mortified that when the words came out of his mouth he sounded as small and as helpless as a mouse. Butcher sneered at Rimmer, and pulled Elizabeth, who gave a repulsive shudder, closer to him. He grinned at Rimmer,

"Or what?" he said showing 2 rows of sharp teeth, "I'll....I'll" Rimmer stammered, he paused while he thought about what he would do, he curled his hands into two scrawny fists and held them up, his face set in determination. Butcher laughed, it was getting too easy, he liked a challenge, Rimmer was literally placeing himself in front of him and asking 'please beat me up!'

"I mean it," said Rimmer uncertainly, Butcher got off the bench and towered over Rimmer, he raised one fist, and punched Rimmer on the side of the head. Rimmer staggered backwards, his brain was flung from side to side yet still he stumbled forward ready to fight, he received a blow which sent him sprawling to the ground. He couldn't see anything; his whole head was hurting so badly Rimmer wished to could detach it. He opened his eyes just in time to see Elizabeth race up to Butcher and hit him. Butcher did something Rimmer would never let him forget.

He hit Elizabeth.

Not too hard, just enough to teach her a lesson. He's learned that off his dad. A women's place was in the kitchen, and she should keep her mouth shut if she knew what was good for her. Rimmer's anger evolved from 'bubbling over' stage to 'volcanic eruption' stage.

He hurled himself at Butcher, and watched in slow motion as the bully's face changed from a cocky smirk to a look of shock and terror. Rimmer knocked Butcher off his feet, and proceed to punch him. Every punch, every taunt, every hit was being paid back, double. A few of Butcher accomplices raced over, seeing that their leader was in trouble, but backed off when they saw what mincemeat Rimmer was making of the strongest, fiercest boy in the school.

When Rimmer felt his debt had been repaid, he stepped back and looked at Elizabeth, she looked back at him in a mixture of amazement and gratitude. Rimmer soon realized what he'd done; he'd beaten the school bully to a pulp, in front of his mates. He looked to where the rest of the class were sat; Butcher's accomplices were less then 5 metres away from the teachers. Rimmer gingerly grabbed Elizabeth's wrist, "Com'on " he said gasping. He and Elizabeth raced out of Io central park and were soon lost in the heart of the city.

When neither of them could run any further, they leant against a building, trying to stop their lungs from exploding in their chests, "Not so much Romeo and Juliet," Elizabeth panted, "more like Thelma and Louise!!" Rimmer, despite the fear and panic, that was dancing round his brain, laughed and turned to face Elizabeth, he stopped laughing.

Already her cheek was going deep, purple where Butcher had hit her. Rimmer's anger soared, he wanted to hit Butcher, he wanted to punch the living day lights out of him, but he couldn't, because he wasn't there.

Rimmer began to kick and punch the building he'd been leaning on. Elizabeth felt very helpless as she watched Rimmer hurt himself; every hit brought a fresh wave of tears to his eyes. She did the one thing she knew would calm him down, the one thing that would stop him.

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Rimmer's anger melted away like an ice cube in an oven, his heart seemed to explode and sunshine flowed through his veins, his toes tingled and his hair stood on end, every good memory he had seemed to grow and eat away at the bad ones, his eyes gleamed and his smile was in danger of going beyond his eyebrows. He looked at Elizabeth, who was blushing. Rimmer walked over to her, and hugged her, and at that moment, rain lashed down, but neither Rimmer nor Elizabeth noticed, for neither of them wanted that hug to end.