Braxton House - the Garden
"So bro, did the news cheer you up?" Heath asks his brother as they all sit around eating.
"The one about everyone rushing around to get a wedding planned in three weeks or the one about there being a screaming baby around the house in months to come?" Kyle asks, laughing as Heath glares at him. "Yes, they did. You didn't need to go to all this effort, Brax is helping me work through it all."
"Don't think it's going to change with the wedding, you can always come to me for help." Brax says, not wanting Kyle to be put off from talking to him if he needed help or advice.
"Didn't you say things would be less hectic from now on? I don't think a last minute wedding is going to be easy." Kyle says. "And if it's another fake wedding situation, there are other ways to cheer me up."
"That's not the only reason, it's what we wanted. But you were a good excuse to have it sooner." Ricky smiles, wanting Kyle to feel part of his brothers, even though they didn't have things they could do together.
"And don't be so surprised, you're our brother and we wanted you to know that." Casey says, hating that Kyle felt pushed out from their family just because he didn't have a lot in common with them. "We should do this more often, make it a new tradition of ours."
"I second that. This food is really good." Lucas says, grabbing another hot dog from the plate in the middle of the table.
"I wouldn't have known that, it's not like you haven't been going for fourth servings." Brax jokes.
"I could eat this all the time." Lucas grins, glancing at Kyle who laughs.
"So who's going to be your best man?" Tyler asks Brax. "And I'm out of the running, I don't need that used against me and I've never been good at public talking."
"Yeah right." Lucas laughs. "You've never had a problem with talking in public."
"That's different. This will be in front of people that hate me and it's not like I have anything good to say." Tyler says, then realises how it sounded. "I mean I haven't known you long enough to know all the great things you've done." He says to Brax.
"Right. Well you have no worries, you're definitely not the best man. I haven't decided that yet but you'll all find out soon when I've made my choice." Brax says.
"It's definitely out of me and Heath." Casey mutters.
"And what makes you think that?" Brax asks, annoyed that Casey kept thinking that. "You'll be joining Tyler if you keep thinking like that. You're not my only brother."
"I just meant we'd have more to say." Casey says.
"Who's your maid of honours going to be?" Bianca asks Ricky, thinking it was best to avoid an argument after going without one for a few days now.
"I've got a couple in mind, I'm going to reveal it very soon." Ricky grins.
"You're keeping it a secret as well?" Kyle moans.
"Of course I am, I know how much you all love surprises." Ricky laughs, knowing they were an inpatient family. "Maybe in a day or two you'll know. Or maybe I'll wait until Brax has figured out his groomsmen."
"That's going to be easy enough." Brax says.
Braxton House - Inside
"I had fun tonight, how did you find it?" Emily asks, lying down next to him on his bed.
"It was good." Kyle says.
"Just good?" Emily asks.
"One meal isn't going to make up for the fact that I don't fit in here. I know they're trying their best, but it's not going to be an easy fix." Kyle says. "I'm not welcome here, that's what everyone else seems to think."
"No, that's what a few River Boys think. Your brothers love having you around, so do I. Especially me might I add." She grins.
"I know, I just… I don't even know." Kyle sighs.
"I think you need to sit down with them and all talk about what needs to change. Nothing can happen if you stay quiet." Emily says, knowing he loved his family, but other people getting involved didn't help, especially gang members who barely knew him.
"I know. Brax said he would help me through this but now he's got a wedding to plan in three weeks." Kyle scoffs, still amazed at how they thought they could pull this off. "I don't even know what needs to change, nothing should have to. Things were going well before Lucas and Tyler showed up, it never mattered that I didn't surf and no one really cared. But they came and they took up the chance to learn and managed to fit in almost instantly. It took me months to feel like part of the family, and it took them a matter of weeks. Don't get me wrong, it's great having them around but…" He trails off with a sigh, hugging her tight.
"I get what you mean. You feel like you're being sidelined because you don't do the same things as them and didn't think it would matter if you did or not." Emily says.
"Exactly. But they're always talking about how great it is when they surf, or when they watch the sports. I tried watching the footy with them, and we did a lot, it just wasn't my thing so I started making excuses so I wouldn't have to watch it. I feel like an outsider when I'm with them." Kyle says.
"What do you think the next step is for you to get back in with them?" Emily asks.
"I don't think there is anything." Kyle honestly says. "They shouldn't have to change everything just for me, it's not their fault I'm not like them." He says as there's a knock on the door, Brax walking in.
"Emily, your brother's outside to take you home." He says.
"Thanks." Emily says as he walks back out. "I told him to not be late, so what does he do?" She laughs as they both sit up.
"Didn't you say boys are the worst at sticking to times?" Kyle smirks.
"My brothers are especially the worst. Maybe I should start telling them earlier times and then maybe they'll be on time." She smiles, grabbing her phone from the bedside table before they both walk out. "But what can you do? Boys will be boys."
"Hey, I'm great at being on time for things!" Kyle smiles as he walks her to the door.
"Yeah, you are." She smiles before kissing him. "Let me know if you're free tomorrow, I might have some spare time."
"I will." Kyle nods, waiting for her to get in her brother's car before turning back to the hallway.
"Kyle, have you got a minute?" Brax calls from the flat, so Kyle walks there instead.
"What's up?" Kyle asks, leaning against the counter.
"You know we really want to help you, whatever it takes?" Brax says, everyone else still being in the garden.
"I know." Kyle lightly nods, briefly glancing down before looking at his brother. "You overheard me and Emily talking, didn't you?"
"Sorry, I didn't want to pry but I heard what you were talking about." Brax says, knowing he shouldn't have listened in. "It's not fair."
"What isn't?" Kyle asks.
"You feeling like this. It shouldn't be the way it is. You can tell me to mind my business, but you feeling like an outsider with us, it's not right. I want you to tell us what needs to happen so you can feel like one of us." Brax says, wanting every one of his brothers to be happy. "I know you don't like surfing, so we won't suggest that, and you don't like sports, so you don't have to watch that with us. But what else do you want to do that we can do with you? It can be anything."
"Brax, it shouldn't be that way. I don't want it to be forced." Kyle says.
"I don't want it to either, but I don't want you feeling like this. Just help me out here, what do you want?"
"I want to feel normal, and I want to feel happy without needing to fake it." Kyle says. "I just want to go about my day without feeling worthless and unwanted, like I've got a reason to be here."
"Honestly?" Brax asks, getting a nod in reply. "Then we're going to see Nate."
"Trips to the doctor weren't exactly on my list of things to do with you guys." Kyle jokes.
"I get that. But if we're going to help you, then the first thing I'm doing is getting a professional opinion." Brax says.
"And what do you mean by that?" Kyle frowns.
"I've seen this before, Kyle." Brax says. "I felt the exact same after Charlie died. I know it's not the same but I wanted to end things because of it. I will not let you get that far so we are going." He firmly says.
"Okay." Kyle mutters, not realising his brother ever felt the same.