AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Terribly sorry for the delay in update; was writing this chapter from scratch and have not had a lot of time over the last few weeks.

I thank you all for your patience and for those continuing to support my story. I truly appreciate it. Hope you enjoy.


Chapter 51 – Sneak out

The three Braxton brothers sat around the dinner table having their night-time meal, and Brax couldn't help but notice the unusual silence between them.

Brax glanced over at Heath who was busy devouring his piece of steak and concluded that the middle brother had taken no notice of Casey's phased out demeanor and reluctance to eat.

Brax had been away at work all afternoon and had not seen Casey since that morning, in which the teenager's mood had shifted significantly.

After watching his youngest brother play with his food for a few minutes more, Brax had finally had enough.

"Alright Case: spit it out. What's got you so quiet tonight? What do you want?" Brax demanded; reading his brother's posture like a book and sensing that Casey wanted something but was tip-toeing around asking.

Brax gave a head nod towards Casey as he'd spoke, making Casey glance across the table and stop picking at his dinner. Casey knew his chances of Brax allowing him to attend the beach party were slim, but he wanted to take the chance.

"Well, it's just...I was wondering if I could take Ruby to this thing on Friday night?" Casey asked.

Brax raised his eyebrow.

"What thing?" Brax enquired sternly; leaving no room for lies.

Casey swallowed.

"It's just a small gathering at the beach," Casey whispered, honestly.

"Uh-huh, a gathering as in a party, or in other words: a beach party?" Brax asked.

Casey looked away and shrugged.

"Can I go?"

Brax frankly shook his head.

"No," the oldest Braxton flat out replied.

Casey shot his head up.

"Why?" he complained.

Heath sat back watching his brothers and smirked.

"Because I said no," Brax stated firmly and got up from the table.

"It's just a small party Brax; everyone of remote importance is going to be there," Casey continued pressing his complaint.

"Everyone but you: I said no," Brax ordered.

"I know these kinds of parties: they are not for you. End of discussion."

Casey huffed, "That's not fair," he argued.

Brax turned to face Casey with a stern glare.

"You want to keep arguing with me Case and you won't be going anywhere with Ruby for a while, because you'll be grounded."

Casey gave a frown and Heath let out a snicker as he watched his authorative and disgruntled brothers.

"Shut up!" Casey spat; turning to face Heath, who just laughed Casey's frustrated remark off.

"Brax please," Casey pleaded; now resting his upper body lazily across the table.

"Let the kid go; he probably just wants some time with his girl to test out the love machine," Heath snickered.

Casey's face flushed and he pulled a look of disguist at his brother.

Before Casey had a chance to reply, Brax interrupted.

"Casey won't be doing anything like that because he's far too young."

Brax now stood over Casey and grabbed his plate.

"Finished?" Brax questioned.

Casey huffed as Brax took his plate away and walked off, not giving any attention to his desperate plea to go to the party.

"Forget it Case, big fella ain't budging on this one," Heath commented.

Casey gazed at Heath with droopy eyes before pulling himself up and making his way to his room, with a heavy sigh.

Brax remained unfazed by Casey's reactions and continued to clean the dishes.

Heath let out a loud laugh once Casey had left; finding it overly amusing of his brother's misfortunes.

Brax turned and glared at Heath.

"Instead of smirking at Casey's situation, why don't you get up and bring your plate over here," Brax barked.


Casey flopped down on his bed and texted Ruby.

'Brax won't let me go.'

It wasn't even moments later when Casey's phone dinged, indicating a new message.

'We have to go to this party. Who says he has to know? Just sneak out like I'm going to.'

Casey thought for a moment, considering his options. Casey was well aware Brax didn't appreciate being lied to, but on the other hand he didn't want to disappoint Ruby.

What's more important: making Ruby happy and being accepted in the school or keeping with Brax's decision?

"Maybe I don't have to exactly lie to Brax, maybe I could just stretch the truth a little," Casey whispered; instantly developing a smile on his face.

Casey grabbed his phone and replied back to Ruby.

'Okay, I'm in. I'll ask Brax if I can take you to the movies or something; he's sure to let me out.'

Ruby smiled reading her boyfriend's text.

'I can't wait for Friday! This party is going to be the bomb!'

When Friday finally came around Casey and Ruby made their way towards Angelo's.

"Do you think he'll say yes?" Ruby asked.

Casey shrugged.

"I hope so. If he believes this it's got to be better than sneaking out and risk getting caught," Casey replied.

"Besides, I haven't mentioned the party since the other night so hopefully Brax will be in a good mood to let me go out."

Casey slipped his hand out of Ruby's.

"I better go in alone so he doesn't get suspicious," Casey suggested.

"Good luck," Ruby said and leaned up to kiss Casey.

Brax looked up from the bar when he noticed Casey approaching.

"Hey Case, how was school?"

"Yeah good," Casey replied and took a seat at one of the bar stools.

"Um Brax, I've been thinking and I wanted to apologise for arguing with you the other night about the party. You're right: it's probably just a waste of time."

"Hmm, good to hear you have come to your senses about that," Brax replied.

Casey nervously swung on the stool.

"I was kind of wondering if I could at least take Ruby out tonight to the movies? I'd be out of yours and Heath's hair just for a few hours. I just really want to do something nice for her," Casey said.

Brax stared at his brother for a moment.

"Alright," Brax replied casually.

Casey stopped swinging on the stool and looked stunned, "Really?"

"I just said yes," Brax said in a questionable tone.

"What time does the movie start?"

Casey hadn't thought that far ahead; his cover would be blown for sure.

"Um, it starts just after seven," Casey lied.

Brax nodded.

"Alright, make sure you are back home by ten," Brax instructed.

"Can we make it eleven?" Casey bargained.

"Ten, or not at all; you still need your sleep and I'm not having a fourteen year old and his young girlfriend walking the streets that late at night on a Friday. In fact do you need me to give you a lift?"

"No, that's just embarrassing Brax. I can't have my big brother tag along on a date," Casey said mortified.

"It won't be tagging."

"Please Brax we don't need a lift," Casey pressed.

"Okay, well have a good time then."

Casey smiled; his plan had worked.

"Thanks Brax. I better get ready," Casey said hurriedly and stood up from the bar.

Casey rushed out with a wave and ran around the corner to where Ruby was waiting.

"So what'd he say?" Ruby asked.

"You were in there for ages."

Casey sighed. "That was because I had to deter his interrogation; he wanted to give us a lift," Casey explained.

"So that means we can go?" Ruby asked.

Casey nodded.

"Yep, and as far as Brax is concerned we're going to the movies," Casey replied with a wide smile.

"This is going to be awesome!" Ruby shrieked.

Casey stared back through the window of Angelo's and took sight of his brother; pushing down all feeling of guilt that were welling inside him.

It was just a harmless party right? They could go for a few hours and be home before ten. Brax didn't need to know where he was all the time. He was old enough to look after himself and Ruby.


Casey and Ruby stood on the beach. There was a bonfire and plenty of students from school dancing and drinking sodas.

"We should go dance," Ruby suggested.

The young teens smiled at each other and jogged further down the beach to the center of the party and began bouncing around to the rhythm of the loud music.

A few hours passed and the time had just reached eight-thirty.

"Can I get you a drink?" Casey asked.

"Yeah, I'm pretty thirsty after all that dancing," Ruby replied.

Casey jogged off to the esky's and poured Ruby and him-self a lime flavoured soda.

While Casey was pouring the drinks a loud raucous cheering came up from the beach, however the young teenager thought nothing of it and made his way back towards Ruby.

Casey was horrified at the sight he saw when he neared his loving girlfriend: Ruby was being surrounded by three other guys, who Casey guessed to be at least seventeen to nineteen.

Upon closer inspection, Casey noticed that the loud voices he had heard before were now coming down the beach in large groups, carrying caskets of beer. Casey became nervous as he approached Ruby, not knowing how to get her away from the much taller and stronger looking guys.

Ruby shifted away as best she could towards Casey.

"Ruby, come on," Casey suggested.

Ruby scowled back at the three guys.

"Hey: where you going hot stuff? We were just getting acquainted," one of the guys shouted.

Casey not liking the movement on his girl, turned to face the three guys.

"Just leave us alone, we don't want anything to do with you," Casey defended.

The three guys laughed.

"Oh, leave us alone," one mocked.

"Pathetic. You don't go telling us what to do kid," the third guy spoke.

Casey took a sip of his drink and wrapped an arm protectively around Ruby's shoulder as the two walked away.

The leader of the three guys; the one with dark brown hair, a well-tanned glow and rounded muscles jogged up behind Ruby and Casey.

"Don't go hot stuff, we can give you a better time than this loser," he spat.

Casey was beginning to see red at these guy's horrid remarks at his girlfriend.

"Just shut up and leave us alone! Don't speak to her like that!" Casey shouted; finding it inside him to stand up to such a strong, older guy so far out of his league.

"Or else what kid?" the guy snickered.

Ruby ignored them and pushed Casey to keep walking, but the hot-tempered teen's emotions were boiling.

"Casey, leave it," Ruby whispered.

"Come on hot stuff, you don't want to deprive us of a good thing. Come on, open those legs for us and show us a good time," the guy hooted and laughed.

This finally made Casey explode. He threw down his soda cup and released himself from Ruby; quickly turning and forcefully punching the taller guy in the abdomen; knocking the wind right out of him.

The guy stumbled backwards then retaliated; punching Casey in the jaw.

"Casey!" Ruby yelled, as Casey tackled the guy to the ground, using all his anger to fight.

The remaining two guys had jumped in to help their mate and pulled Casey off.

"I told you to shut up about her!" Casey yelled.

"Casey!" Ruby yelled again; being frightened of the danger they were in and seeing Casey getting hurt.

Casey rolled on the sand and groaned, blocking his body from hits.

"Get off him you thugs! Leave him alone!" Ruby screamed.

The rest of the students at the beach turned in the direction of the fight and raced over to get involved.

Ruby took the opportunity to help Casey up and the two managed to sneak away while the two guys were helping their mate nurse his wounds.

"Casey, you're bleeding," Ruby whispered; reaching her hand up to touch Casey's lip.

"Yeah and my abdomen is pretty sore too," Casey groaned.

Ruby gently hugged Casey.

"That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me: standing up for me like that," Ruby whispered.

"But also the dumbest. Casey you could have also been hurt really bad."

Casey shrugged, "I had too. I wasn't going to let them say that about you. You're my girl."

"Hey: where's my hot stuff and that loser boyfriend gone? I ain't finished with him!"

Casey and Ruby heard the yell and shared a look of worry: the two were petrified but hid the emotion well.

"We have to get away from here," Ruby said.

"We're outnumbered Rubes, you saw how they came at you and me. What if they follow us?" Casey said with worry.

"Casey calm down, we have to figure this out."

Casey shook his head. "I think it's time to call Brax; he'll know what to do."

Ruby nodded in agreement as she watched a fight break out with the gangs and students on the beach and the three guys that were after her and Casey were now glancing around; clearly searching for them.

Casey got his mobile phone out and shakily dialed Brax's number.

"Hey, Casey; what's up?" Brax answered cheerfully.

Brax had just sat down to relax after the tiring day at work.

"Um Brax, can you come pick Ruby and me up?" Casey asked; almost in a yell over the noise in the background.

Brax furrowed his brow at hearing the commotion in the background.

"What's all that noise?" Brax questioned.

Casey remained silent as he glanced between Ruby and the fighting on the beach.

"Casey: you there?" Brax called.

"Yeah, Brax please, it's getting ugly down here and I don't know what to do," Casey explained.

Brax sat up straight on the couch upon hearing Casey's scared, quivering voice.

"Case, what's going on?" Brax asked.

"Some guys said some nasty things to Ruby and I got in a fight and now they're after us," Casey explained.

Brax groaned, "Alright. How could you get into something like this Casey at the movies?" Brax questioned.

"Look, just lay low and I'll meet you at the cinema in a jiffy."

Brax was about to hang up when Casey yelled into the phone, "Brax wait!"

"What?"

"Ruby and I...we're not at the movies," Casey whispered.

"Yeah okay, where are you then? Tell me the exact street name you're on from the cinema."

Brax pulled out a pen and paper to write the street address.

"No Brax; we're at the beach...we went to the party," Casey sheepishly explained.

Brax bolted up and dropped his pen.

"You're what now?!" he yelled into the phone.

"Brax, you have to come quick, please!" Casey yelled.

Brax then heard loud shouts becoming nearer and Ruby's panicked shout of 'Hurry Casey, I think they spotted us'.

Casey heard Brax sigh deeply, knowing his brother was highly annoyed.

"Brax, I'm sorry," Casey whispered.

Brax ran his hand over his face.

"Casey, keep low and stay where you are. I'll be there in ten," Brax ordered and hung up the phone.

Brax let out a frustrated gasp and grabbed his keys; storming out of the house to pick his brother and girlfriend up.

"So is he coming?" Ruby asked, as she latched onto Casey.

Casey nodded, "Yeah, but he's real angry."

Ruby sighed and hugged Casey comfortingly.

"I hope my Mum doesn't find out about this, for I'll be as good as dead."

"Yeah tell me about it; Brax's is sure gonna kill me," Casey mumbled.


Casey and Ruby stood in each other's arms, anxiously waiting for Brax to come and get them; never once taking their eyes of the scenes that were unfolding on the beach of the drunken gate-crashers and three targeting thugs.

"Hey, there they are!" the leader of the thugs that had chatted up Ruby yelled out.

"Casey, they're coming, what do we do?"

Casey glanced around frantically.

"We can't run Ruby, Brax is gonna be here."

The three guys began heading up towards the young couple and closed in.

Brax sped down the streets towards the beach, gripping the steering wheel tight in anger: angry that his brother had lied to him and angry that he could be in danger.

"Now then, let's finish what we started," the oldest guy snickered.

Casey stood protectively in front of Ruby, fearing for his own life when he saw the bulkiest one of the lot flick open a knife.

"Casey, he has a knife; let's just go," Ruby whispered.

Ruby and Casey slowly backed away as the three thugs moved in closer.

"No-one is going anywhere. Get them!" the leader shouted.

Before the thugs had a chance to charge at the young teens, they were all brightened by the shining lights of a car as Brax squealed his Ute to a halt as close as he could get, upon seeing Casey and Ruby from the distance, being preyed upon by the older teens.

Brax jumped out of his Ute and Casey and Ruby stared in relief and amazement; taking them off guard and allowing one of the oldest teens to make a grab for Casey.

Brax took no hesitation and stepped in, shoving the teen hard, away from his baby brother.

"Get the hell off him!" Brax shouted and glared fiercely at the three teens.

"Oi, who the hell are you? We got no beef with you," the brown-haired one spat.

"All we want is a good time with the lady and we were just teaching this loser here a lesson," the teen with the knife spoke.

Brax raised his brow and eyed the knife.

"Well that kid you were messing with is my little brother and his girlfriend, so yes, I have beef with you: because you mess with my little brother, you mess with me!" Brax shouted.

"Casey, Ruby: get to the Ute now!" Brax ordered.

Casey and Ruby stood stunned for a moment, waiting to see Brax's next move.

Brax advanced on the teens and tackled the oldest to the ground and punched him repeatedly.

Casey stared wide eyed and shoved Ruby away towards his brother's Ute. Casey saw the teen with the knife advancing towards Brax.

"Brax, look out!" Casey yelled; stepping forward with the urge to protect his big brother.

"Casey: no!" Ruby yelled and held Casey back.

Brax turned around in enough time to see the teen with the knife and quickly jumped up from the ground and grabbed the teen by the wrist; twisting the knife from his hand and forcefully landed a punch to his jaw.

The remaining teen fled before Brax could get his hands on him and so Brax stood back, satisfied at the sight of two thugs now in the sand, with mouths and noses bleeding, and bruises to their abdomen.

Brax flexed his fist which was split in the fight and with a heavy sigh, stormed back to the Ute, giving Casey and Ruby a hard glare.

Casey sheepishly stared at his brother and noticed his bloodied hand.

"Brax, are you alright?" Casey asked.

Brax just stared hard at the worried teens.

"Get in the car, the both of you: now!" Brax ordered, in a harsh, no nonsense tone.

Casey and Ruby crept into the back seat in silence.

As Brax started up the engine, Casey glanced at his brother.

"Brax, I know you're mad," Casey whispered.

"Hmm, I'm well past mad Casey," Brax replied shortly.

Casey rested back in his seat, not wanting to push his brother and curled his hand around Ruby's.

Brax made his way towards Ruby's house first.

"Um, Brax: could you maybe just drop me off around the corner?" Ruby asked.

Brax glanced in the rear-view mirror.

"Take it your guardian or parent doesn't know you lied and snuck out to this party either?" Brax said harshly; gazing at Casey.

"No," Ruby answered.

Brax didn't answer and just drove on. Ruby leaned over and whispered to Casey, asking whether that meant Brax would do her the favour and Casey shrugged.

When Brax turned the corner of Ruby's street, he pulled over and turned around to face the teens.

"Casey, say your goodbyes; Ruby needs to get out and go home," Brax ordered.

Ruby briefly smiled, "Thank you."

Brax remained unimpressed and so Ruby got out with Casey following.

Casey wrapped his hands around Ruby's lower waist.

"Sorry about tonight," Casey whispered.

"I still had fun with you and I'm thankful your brother didn't tell my Mum."

"He won't; he's good like that, but I still have to deal with him though."

Ruby hugged Casey as they shared the warmth of each other's body.

Brax wound down the window.

"Casey, it does not take that long to say goodbye!" Brax snapped.

Casey rolled his eyes.

"Well I'll see you at school. Good luck with..." Ruby stated; indicating towards Brax.

"Thanks I'm gonna need it," Casey replied.

The two kissed but were quickly pulled apart by Brax's angry yell from inside the car.

"Casey: now!"

Casey released Ruby and gave her a brief wave before getting back into the Ute, in the front this time.

Casey wanted to argue back at his brother about not giving him time and being patient, but thought better, for he did not want to give his brother more reason to be angry.

Brax wasted no time in putting his car back into gear, as Casey sat silently, letting the guilt eat away.


Brax pulled on the handbrake as he parked the Ute in the driveway and Casey un-clicked his seatbelt quickly.

Casey slowly walked towards the door and Brax came up behind him, in a fast pace and shoved him harshly on the back.

"Get inside!"

Casey stumbled inside and glared at Brax, who just slammed the door and had his mind focused elsewhere.

"Sit!" Brax barked; pointing to the couch, before disappearing into the kitchen to attend to his hand.

When Brax returned he had a stern look on his face as he stood in front of Casey.

"I'm sorry," Casey whispered; breaking the awkward silence between the two.

Brax huffed loudly and placed his hands on his hips.

"I do not want to hear it Casey! I told you not to go to that party, yet you disobeyed me and deliberately lied to me; for what: just to hang out at some party? What were you thinking Casey?!" Brax yelled.

"You could have gotten Ruby and yourself seriously hurt starting a fight with that gang that gate-crashed!"

"I was trying to protect Ruby!" Casey defended.

Brax sighed in frustration and shifted from his standing spot.

"I get that and that's not what I'm mad about. You should have been smart and left it alone; not go finding trouble, especially when one of them had a knife. What if he'd have stabbed you Casey?" Brax declared.

"I didn't know that Brax!" Casey yelled.

Brax leaned over and placed his hands on the couch on either side of Casey's legs and flicked his brother's face up so he could look him in the eye.

Casey and Brax remained silent for a few moments as Brax kept a good eye focus on that of his little brother; glancing sternly at him.

"I warned you about that party and you blatantly disregarded my words and I won't have that," Brax warned in a deep, stern tone.

Casey shifted nervously under his brother's harsh gaze and body block around him.

"Brax, I really am sorry," Casey apologised.

Brax shifted back up, standing tall.

"You are grounded: two weeks," Brax stated.

Casey's eyes widened. He knew he would be punished for going against his brother, but two weeks wasn't fair.

Casey immediately stood up, retaliating.

"Brax, that's not fair!" Casey yelled.

Brax glared hard at his younger brother.

"You want to talk fair? You lied and snuck off to an unruly party and you say I'm unfair?!"

Casey scowled at his big brother.

"Come on Brax, please? Two weeks? It wasn't even like I did anything illegal; I was just there. It's not fair and you know it," Casey argued.

Brax raised his eyebrow, but remained giving Casey a stern look.

"Exactly: you were there and I suggest you accept the consequences, or by all means go right ahead arguing with me and you'll make your way straight to being grounded for three weeks; your choice," Brax affirmed; not budging on his tough demeanor.

Casey huffed, defeated.

"What am I supposed to do for two weeks?" Casey complained.

Brax shrugged, "Should have done as you were told and believe me, I can find plenty for you to do. In fact you can come to the restaurant after school and after doing your homework, you can help wash the dishes; that should keep you busy."

Casey groaned, knowing there was no way out of this.

"You done?" Brax questioned.

Casey stood silently staring at the floor.

"Go to your room," Brax ordered; pointing towards the hall.

Casey shuffled his way down the hall towards his room.

Heath, who had been watching the whole scene play out between his brothers, snickered at Casey's scolding from the oldest Braxton and stood with his arms folded when Casey had stormed off to his room.

"Don't you think two weeks is a little harsh, big fella? The kid was just having some fun with his girl," Heath defended.

"Casey doesn't need to be sneaking off to raves, and getting into fights."

"Hey, I'm just saying. Weren't you a teenager once?"

"Yes Heath and when I was Casey's age I was run off my feet keeping you and Casey safe from Dad, or did you forget that?" Brax remarked.

Heath shook his head with a frown.

"Course not."

"Well then leave the parenting decisions to me, got it?" Brax snapped.

Heath rolled his eyes and walked out of the kitchen doorway, away from his disgruntled older brother.

Just like clockwork, as Casey reached his room his phone buzzed.

Shutting his door he pulled out his phone and instantly smiled at seeing a new text from Ruby.

'How'd you get on with Brax?'

'After he gave me this huge lecture on lying and sneaking around, he grounded me for two weeks,' Casey texted back.

'No fun. I'm glad Charlie didn't find out; I'd be grounded till the end of school term. I'm grateful for what your brother did, even if we can't hang out for awhile. I had a great time with you tonight xoxo. See you at school Monday. Goodnight. Love you.'

Casey's face beamed with a wide smile at the happiness Ruby gave him.

'Love you too. Goodnight." Casey replied.

Casey had never loved anyone before and he couldn't stop the butterflies that swelled inside him every time he was near Ruby.


Casey walked into Angelo's after school and Brax looked at him from behind the counter.

"Glad to see you came on time," Brax announced.

"Like I had a choice," Casey grumbled.

Brax gestured over to one of the tables in the corner of the restaurant and pulled out a chair.

"Sit down and do your homework and don't stuff around, because when you're done I want you helping with the dishes," Brax said firmly.

"What if I have lots of homework I can't get it finished to help?" Casey smarted.

"You do not have that much homework that it will take you five hours to complete," Brax replied.

"How do you know; you weren't at school to see what the teachers handed out," Casey argued.

Brax raised his eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his brother's remarks.

"Casey, quit it and stop wasting time. I have a business to run," Brax said sternly.

"I'm not stopping you," Casey grumbled.

"Just sit!" Brax warned.

"You don't have to treat me like a child," Casey spat; sliding into the chair.

"Show me some maturity and I won't treat you like a child," Brax announced, turning to walk away.

"You know this could be classified as being out of the house and I thought I was grounded?"

Brax glared at Casey, "Don't get smart."

Brax firmly tapped the table with his fingers.

"Get to work," he ordered.

Casey opened one of his books and Brax returned with a glass of orange juice.

"I'm not thirsty," Casey answered.

"Just drink it Case," Brax demanded, using a slightly softer tone than before.

After three hours Casey completed all his work and sat back in the chair.

"Why aren't you working Case?" Brax questioned.

"I'm done."

Brax gestured towards the back sink and Casey stood up with a groan.

"This sucks," Casey complained; washing dish after dish and wondering how a restaurant could go through so many dishes when it wasn't even a busy afternoon.

Brax let Casey go to the restaurant every day after school for the first week of his grounding then to Casey's relief, he let Casey off the final week; keeping the teen to his grounding, just without the extra chore of dish cleaning.

Casey flopped lazily on the couch and texted Ruby.

'I can't wait till we can hang out properly again. I'm so over being grounded and I miss you already xo.'