Chapter Nine
Charlie's P.O.V.
Walk out of the boys? Is that what I heard Brax say? No, he couldn't do that.
"Brax, they're your family. You can't leave the boys to be with me," I told him.
"I'm not leaving them. I just wouldn't hang around them so much," he said.
"But still. It's just like Heath leaving you. It won't work because you're his brother. The River Boys are practically your brothers. Are you boys suppose to stick with each other through thick and thin?"
"Yeah, I still will, I just won't be with them all the time. This means they'll be less police visits for me haha."
I looked at him with disappointment.
"What? Are you not happy with that? I thought you didn't want me near the police station?" he said jokingly.
"Well... It will mean I'll see you less..."
"See, so we should go out!"
"But what difference will it make? Nobody will have realised you've left the boys until ages away. Besides, they'll still probably look at you the same way."
"So? They'll know when I don't come turning up at the station."
"What about Heath?" I asked.
"What about Heath?" he repeated.
"Err... Last time I checked, you're always there bailing him out," I reminded him.
"Yeah, but it's not my fault he's constantly there."
"You'll still be around though."
"Why does it even matter Charlie?" he exclaimed. "If I leave the boys, what they get up to will have nothing to do with me."
"But knowing Heath, he'll come running back to you right?"
"I don't know Charlie. I don't know what goes through his mind. I just know he makes the most idiotic choices."
"Yeah, we figured that bit out awhile ago."
"So what do you say Charlie? Can we give this a go?"
"Would it be okay if you let me have a think about it?"
"Yeah, sure. Just give me a call when you've made up your mind," Brax said.
I couldn't think straight for the rest of the afternoon. Part of me was saying "Yes Charlie, give it a go. What's the worst that can happen?" The other part of me was saying "No Charlie. This will still affect your job. Once a River Boy, always a River Boy." Firstly, my main worry was Ruby. How would she react if she found out I was dating her boyfriend's brother? She would completely freak out, not to mention tell everyone around her. I didn't want anyone else to know. Either way, I don't think Leah would want Brax inside this house. I know she doesn't think much of him, especially after the many surfing incidents she thought VJ had with the River Boys. As much as everyone said it wasn't their fault, Leah still hated being around the boys, especially Brax.
Leah returned home from work, just in time to make dinner. She dropped her handbag on the dining table, in the same room as where I was lying down on the couch. I noticed that she was standing still for quite awhile... I looked up at her and that's when she started talking to me.
"Are you okay Charlie?" she asked.
"Yeah, yeah, I am," I answered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," I assured her.
"Well it's just that you're never lying down doing nothing. You're usually a pretty active woman Charlie."
"I've just had a tiring day, that's all."
"Charlie... You had a three hour shift at work. I didn't see you at the diner once, nor down at the beach."
"I stopped at Angelo's instead and didn't have my usual run... I went on a different route instead..."
"Really Charlie? I still would've seen you on the beach either way. I can tell there is something troubling you. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No Leah, I'm fine thanks."
"Alright... If you say so..."
She didn't seem convinced at all, but at least she left and went to cook; thank goodness for that.
Heath's P.O.V.
As soon as I got back from catching some waves and having a few beers with the boys, Brax was lounging around on the couch again. The only times he ever did this was when things weren't going well between him and Tegan. Hang on a minute; he couldn't be back with Tegan could he? I asked myself. I walked along the hallway of our house to see where Casey was. Like always, he had his bedroom door shut.
"Casey, can I come in?" I asked.
"What do you want Heath?" Casey asked through the door.
"Just let me come in would you? How much privacy can a school boy need?" I joked.
Obviously, he didn't take my comment as a joke and thought I was being serious. He opened the door, looked at me, told me to shut up and then slammed the door in my face.
"Calm down bro! I actually need to talk to you," I yelled at him.
"Fine, but make it quick," he said angrily and let me into his room.
Casey's P.O.V.
It really irritated me how Heath interrupted me. I never understand why he needs to say something to me. We can never have a proper conversation without either yelling our heads off at each other, or needing Brax to tell Heath to back off.
"So?" I said to Heath.
He just kept staring around my room, as if I was hiding anything suspicious.
I shouted his name, "Heath!"
For once he actually heard me.
"Yeah?"
Oh god no. How short could his memory possibly be? From what I can recall, he was the one who came knocking on my door.
"You wanted to talk to me remember?" I reminded him.
"Oh yeah, that's right. What's up with your brother?"
"How should I know?"
"Well he tells you everything, doesn't he? You're the precious little brother."
I glared at Heath. It's his fault Brax doesn't tell him much for being such a douche. Besides, there was no way I would tell him about how Charlie and Brax looked on the night I saw them. I did have my suspicions, but Heath would definitely be the last person I'd tell anything about.
"Ask him yourself if you really want to know, and please, don't interrupt me. Can you go now? Please?"
"Fine," he said and slammed the door.
Oh, how typical.
