AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This story was a bit of a challenge for me to write, and may seem forced at times, as it was difficult trying to manipulate Kyle's character. As always with my work, I hope someone will find enjoyment out of it, and feedback is always highly appreciated, thank you.
Chapter 1
Kyle 25, Casey 19, Heath 28, Brax 32
Casey walked into Angelo's restaurant wearing his gym uniform. He was sporting a scowl on his face as he approached the bar.
"Hi, where's Brax?" Casey greeted his older brother, Kyle.
Kyle was wiping over the beer taps with a damp cloth.
"Out the back doing stock-take; why, what's wrong?" Kyle spoke casually to his brother.
Casey let out a huff.
"What isn't?" he spat.
"Can you draw me up a shot?" Casey requested.
Kyle eyed his younger brother and although when Kyle had first come to town, he admitted that Casey and him had not seen eye to eye, but now Kyle had taken the same reigns as the oldest two and had begun looking out for the youngest.
"Why do you need a drink at this hour in the day?" Kyle asked, but proceeded to pour a shot of Bourbon for his younger brother anyway.
Kyle handed over the shot glass to which Casey took readily and gulped it down without a moment's notice.
"Heath: he's being such a pain; again," Casey drawled out.
"He thinks that just because he is older than me, he can boss me around and show me how to run classes. I mean, I was the one who got my PT certificate; he's just job learning; and he's only there because Brax told him to be," Casey complained.
Kyle listened attentively to his brother.
"That's a bit harsh, isn't it?" Kyle commented.
Casey shrugged and dropped his shot glass down with a ringing bang against the bar.
Kyle took the glass and placed it into the sink behind him; giving it a rinse out before grabbing a cloth to dry it.
"You think Brax is going to change his mind if you talk to him about it?" Kyle asked.
Casey shrugged, just as Brax emerged from the back room.
"Brax is going to change his mind about what?" Brax asked; not taking his eyes off his clipboard and paper.
"Kyle could you organise to get some more: Vanilla Liqueur, Whiskey nips, Vodka, and some Kahlua from the rep?" Brax asked; already having brushed off his first question he'd asked when he'd come back interrupting his brothers talking.
"Sure, I'll get right on it," Kyle responded; always being thankful that Brax had given him the opportunity to manage the restaurant and given him a second chance with being part of a family.
"Oh, hey, Case. How was work?" Brax finally greeted the youngest Braxton.
Casey rolled his eyes and slid off the bar stool to follow his brother around the restaurant as Brax continued to check stock.
Brax stopped checking his paper in front of him and turned to face Casey with a raised glared.
"Work, Casey?" Brax repeated.
When Casey just glared at his big brother Brax took it as something he did not have time for, and with a grunt Brax returned his gaze back to his paper and walked off.
"Brax wait!" Casey called, rushing after his brother.
Brax turned around to face Casey.
"What? I asked you a question before and you didn't answer, so what gives Casey. I don't have time right now; I have to get this stock-take list done by the night-time rush and I'm very busy," Brax stated.
"I wanted to talk to you about the gym and Heath," Casey started.
Brax sighed, "Can't this wait until I get home tonight?"
Brax didn't wait for an answer and went back to checking tables.
"Why did you have to leave Heath partially in charge of the gym?" Casey complained.
"He's doing nothing but throwing his weight around and driving me insane!"
Brax groaned. This was a common occurrence he'd had with his brothers since he'd made the decision; knowing full well that all their life Heath and Casey fought like cat and dog.
"Casey, we've been through this all before. Can we talk about this at home?" Brax ended.
However Casey had spoken his words now and was all fired up.
"He keeps bragging and showing me down to the customers. You know I know how to do more than him; he's not even a personal trainer, Brax! I worked hard to obtain my certificate!" Casey stated, raising his voice a notch.
Brax walked around the restaurant adjusting some chairs now.
"Brax: are you even listening?!" Casey yelled.
Casey's yell finally got a response out of the head Braxton.
"Casey, lower your voice; I have customers. Yes I am listening, what do you want me to do about it? I'm not changing my decision: you two have to work together," Brax said firmly; glancing at Casey.
Casey shook his head and huffed in frustration.
"Look Case, you know Heath's an idiot and likes to show off, but I made you both co-owners of the gym because you can't run it on your own and I know how hard you worked; I'm proud of you for that. You got the book smarts and Heath doesn't, but you need to understand he has to put his life to some good use," Brax explained.
"But does that have to entail ruining my career; how are we supposed to work together if he doesn't do his share and even listen to me?!" Casey complained, in a disgruntled tone.
Brax rolled his eyes over Casey's dramatic complaining and took note how some of the customers were now glancing in their direction.
"Alright, Casey: that's enough!" Brax snapped, causing the youngest to retreat.
Brax sighed, "You want me to talk to Heath, I will, but right now I'm busy, so I need you to grow up and get on with it," Brax affirmed.
Casey silently nodded.
"Thanks Brax."
Casey made his way back to the bar, glancing back occasionally at his brother.
"Has he been grumpy all day?" Casey asked Kyle.
"He's probably not in the best of moods after having to deal with an angry client this morning when Matt stuffed up a client's order and when they finally got the order, it had gone cold," Kyle explained.
"Thanks for the drink and I'll see you at home," Casey said.
Kyle smiled, "Yeah see you."
Brax watched as Casey headed towards the exit.
"Bye Brax," Casey called out.
"Yep," Brax hastily answered back, but couldn't fathom his brother's dilemma.
Brax made his way back behind the bar and placed down his notepad.
"Well stock seems to match up. Just get on top of those orders for me; would ya? I got somewhere I need to be, or should I say a certain someone I need to sort out," Brax explained.
Kyle nodded, "Yeah, Casey told me about Heath."
"When don't things that mess up surround Heath?" Brax commented.
Kyle shrugged, giving Brax a weak smile.
"I'll get these done tonight," Kyle told.
"Thanks mate. I know I can rely on you," Brax said with a smile; slapping Kyle on the upper arm.
Brax grabbed his keys and wallet and made his way out to his prized shiny black Ute.
Jumping in, Brax made his way over to the gym. Brax walked inside the flashy, well-build gym that he had recently bought from Romeo and Indy to make light for his brother's future.
Brax watched as Heath instructed a client on how to use the Vertical Bench Press.
"Make sure you do ten reps of this to get the full effect, but take a break after each set of five."
Brax watched the young man nod and flex his body to the movement of the machine.
Upon turning away from the client, Heath noticed his brother.
"Hey bro: coming here to get yourself a workout with the master? I'll give ya a discount because you're family," Heath greeted; flouncing his muscular body towards his brother.
Brax gave an unimpressed scowl.
"I did not come here to work out," Brax grumbled.
"Hey, okay I get it. It's your own loss for not getting some expertise from the pro!" Heath proudly exclaimed.
"I came to have a talk to you," Brax said flatly.
Heath shrugged, "What about?"
"You tell me," Brax replied.
Heath scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Let me guess: big baby Casey came to you having a cry over how I'm working things here?"
A few clients turned their attention to the talking brothers.
"Can we talk about this in the office?" Brax requested.
Heath and Brax made their way into the gym office and Heath closed the door.
"So what has the big baby told you now?" Heath asked.
"Never mind what he said. Point is: Casey owns half this gym too and you are both meant to be working together; none of this arguing business or throwing your weight around. Casey knows his stuff and you do too, so I don't want to hear anymore about you being unable to co-operate," Brax lectured.
Heath reluctantly rolled his eyes, in which Brax slapped him on the chest.
"Oi: got me?" Brax demanded.
"Yes, I got ya: lay off the big baby," Heath smarted.
"Good; then I say we're done here. Better get back to those clients out there waiting," Brax said, pointing his hand outside the office and gesturing his head in a similar direction.
Brax opened the door and walked straight on out; passing by the main sector of the gym and out the front door.
Heath left the office with a huff and went back to attending to his clients.
The boys were all at home together that evening as Phoebe, Ricky, and Bianca had all gone to the city for a girl's night out at a luxurious relaxation clinic in celebration of Bianca's pregnancy.
Kyle, Heath, and Casey were sitting on the couch in front of the television; eagerly waiting for Brax to return.
"'Ey boys night in, huh; beers, pizza, and footie," Heath cheered; relaxing back against the couch.
"Speaking of which, Kyle go get us some beers," Heath ordered.
Kyle gave Heath a look.
"Why am I the one getting them?"
"Because Kyle, your wondrous big brother said so," Heath added, giving Kyle a shove to get him moving.
"Besides you got one of those RGA, RSJ things that Brax employs you for in the restaurant."
Kyle rolled his eyes and stood up from the couch.
"It's RSA, Heath, and I doubt that applies to one beer in one's own home."
"Heath just doesn't want to go because he forgot to say he's the wondrously lazy big brother," Casey retorted.
Kyle smirked at Casey's comment.
"Oi you: come 'ere and say that," Heath challenged; reaching over Kyle's now vacant spot to tackle his brother.
Heath ruffled his knuckles into Casey's wavy light hair.
"Oh; so far!" Casey teased at Heath leaning over to reach him; referencing back to his lazy comment.
Casey shoved Heath away and let out a loud laugh.
Kyle came back with four beers in hand; handing one to Heath and Casey respectfully and placing one down on the table for Brax when he came back from grabbing the pizzas.
"I hope the big fella gets back soon, I'm starving!" Heath exclaimed; glancing over towards the door.
"Why is that no surprise?" Kyle stated.
"I second that," Casey joked.
"Geez you two; respect your elders; meaning me," Heath said.
Casey and Kyle shared a smile that was almost as if they were deciding through their visual signals on who was going to pass comment about Heath's elders joke, but before either of them spoke Heath again made his loud voice heard.
"If big fella doesn't get back here soon, I'll drink his beer."
Seconds later, the headlights of Brax's Ute shone in the driveway and Brax entered the house only minutes later, holding two boxes of pizza.
"Finally: I was beginning to think I'd die of starvation," Heath complained.
Brax shut the door and walked over to the couch; tossing the boxes on the coffee table.
"You would think that Heath, and knowing you, you wouldn't stop at eating everything bar the kitchen sink," Brax joked.
"Heath was gonna drink your beer too," Casey dobbed, only to receive a shove to his shoulder from Heath, who reached behind Kyle to do so.
Brax scoffed and grabbed his beer from the table and cracked the lid.
"Well dig in while it's hot," Brax announced.
Casey scooted to the edge of the couch.
"Dibs on first piece!" he shouted.
"You're such a child, Case!" Heath retorted.
"I am not!" Casey yelled back in protest.
Heath shoved his youngest brother's hands away from the pizza to grab the first slice before leaning back against the couch.
"Too bad you missed out," Heath teased.
Casey groaned and grabbed his slice, also resting back against the couch.
Brax leaned over to grab his piece of pizza, along with Kyle.
"Hey Case, look," Heath called.
Casey glanced over to Heath and saw his older brother chewing his slice with his mouth wide open.
"You still want the first piece?" Heath teased.
"Augh, gross; like that isn't childish?" Casey stated.
Brax rolled his eyes, chewing on his piece.
"Enough: you're both children. Glad that one person besides me shows some maturity," Brax commented, glancing at Kyle.
"Brownie points, 'ey Kyle," Heath said with a nudge to his brother.
Heath leaned over and grabbed another slice, only this time pressing the pizza slice sideways and shoveling it into his mouth in one big go; following it up with a loud burp.
"You're so disgusting!" Casey exclaimed.
"What: it's all natural," Heath said in his defense.
"Nothing is natural about you," Casey commented.
Heath reached over and flicked Casey on the back of the head, to which Casey leapt over the back of the couch and tackled Heath from behind.
Both boys wrestled and laughed.
Brax shook his head at his brother's antics.
"Where did I go wrong?"
Casey let go of his vice grip around Heath's neck, laughing.
"Ha! That's right big fella, can't blame just us," Heath replied.
"So much for a quiet night in," Kyle commented.
"Stop Case, you're upsetting Kyle; or do you just want some too?" Heath teased, wrapping his arm around Kyle's shoulder and tackling him.
Kyle huffed and pulled away, smirking.
"Who's playing tonight?" Kyle asked, in reference to the football game.
"Think its Goulburn Galahs verse Redfern Ravens," Casey answered, taking his seat back on the couch.
Once the brothers had gotten all their energy out, they relaxed back; drinking their beers and watching the footie.
Little did, the tight-knit Braxton brothers know, that their steady life was all about to change.