Chapter 1

Sunday (1:47pm) …

Summer Bay – Braxton House – Living Room

After saying goodbye to the social worker and showing their long-lost brother his new bedroom, the four Braxtons were currently sat on the sofa and chairs in the living room talking.

"So, are you excited to be here?" Casey asked him.

Kyle doesn't say anything, worried that he might say something wrong and he'll be taken back into care.

"Kyle?" Brax said trying to get his attention "Are you okay because if you aren't, we can sort it."

Clearing his throat, Kyle plucked up the courage to say something: "I'm fine thank you."

"Eventually he speaks." Heath jokes trying to ease the tension in the room.

"Sorry, I just don't want to say something that will make you send me back."

"Kyle, as soon as we found out you existed, we knew that we needed to get to know you. So, no matter what you say or do, you are stuck with us." Brax tries to reassure him.

Kyle suddenly smiles: "Really?"

"Yes really, this one has been asking every day when you would get here." Heath tells him pointing at Casey.

"Well then Casey, I'm excited to be here and get to know you all." Kyle replies to Casey's question eventually "Brax, can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Brax said.

"When do I start school?"

This question causes both Casey and Heath to choke on their drinks.

"What?" Kyle asked as he was confused to their reaction.

"You actually want to go to school?" Casey asks then looks at his oldest brother "Are we sure we are all related?"

"Of course, I'm sure Casey." Brax replied "And to answer your question Kyle, Tuesday because we need to head to Yabbie Creek tomorrow to get your stuff."

"Ok cool." Kyle replies "I love school, maths and music are my strongest subjects though. What about you Casey as I assume, we'll probably be in the same classes?"

Just then Casey's phone rings: "Saved by the phone, I gotta go Brax I promised Tam I'd meet her after Kyle got here."

"Tam?" Kyle quizzes his brother.

"Tam is short for Tamara, she's my girlfriend. It's our one-year anniversary today so she has something planned." Casey explains to him.

Sighing, Brax tells Casey he can go as long as he is back by nine as it was a school night.

With that Casey takes off to meet his girlfriend, leaving the other three to talk.

(2:22pm) 35 minutes later…

Summer Bay – Stewart's Point

"What's he like then?" Tamara asks her boyfriend as they enjoy the picnic Tamara had made.

"Seems alright although he likes school." Casey says pulling a face.

"Seriously? There's at least one Braxton who enjoys education, I think I need to see this in person to believe it and so would the others." Tamara laughs "Is he starting tomorrow?"

"I think me and Heath are still in shock, I think Brax must have already known to be fair as he didn't seem surprised by it. Also, no he won't be in tomorrow."

"But surely the first day of a new term would be the best to start."

"Brax, needs to take him to Yabbie Creek to pick up uniform and supplies." Casey replied "Considering, we didn't think he would be moving in this quick."

"Makes sense then." Tamara replies as she picks a grape up and throws it at her boyfriend.

The teens stop talking with that and start throwing grapes at each other.

Monday (6:01am) 15 hours and 39 minutes later…

Summer Bay – Braxton House – Garden

Due to sleeping in a bed he wasn't used to; Kyle had woken well before everyone else was due to get up for the day so when Heath came out into the garden to grab his surfboard, he was shocked to find Kyle sat on the deck.

"What are you doing up before even Casey?" Heath asks sitting down beside his brother.

"Couldn't sleep." Kyle replies, "Usually can't when it's a bed I've never slept in before."

"Oh, well if you want, I'm heading to the beach for surf if you want to join me."

"No thank you, I can't surf."

"What?! You're a Braxton who doesn't know how to surf but yet love school, I'm so confused." Heath laughs.

"Yeah, I'm just not a fan of water to be honest."

"Any reason why?" Heath asks trying to find out more about Kyle than they already knew.

"Nope." Kyle quickly replied standing up "Am I okay to get a drink?"

"Knock yourself out, not literally though." Heath tells him.

"Thanks, have a nice surf." Kyle said before disappearing inside.

Heath watches him walk back inside and wonders to himself, why Kyle wasn't a fan of water.

(7:14am) 1 hour and 13 minutes later…

Summer Bay – Braxton House – Living Room/Kitchen

When Casey eventually woke up and got ready for school then walked into the kitchen, he noticed that Kyle was sat at the table with Brax talking over their breakfast.

Grabbing an OJ from the fridge then a bowl he joined them: "Morning, how did you sleep Kyle?"

"Good thanks." Kyle said in between mouthfuls of cereal "I wish I was going to school with you. I hate missing a day."

"Don't take this the wrong way but you are so weird." Casey laughed.

"Case." Brax said.

"What it's true, not even Lucas loves school that much and you know what he's like." Casey reminds Brax.

"Who's Lucas?" Kyle asks ignoring the weird comment made by Casey.

"Oh, he's a mate. Lives next door actually and on the other side of us is his cousin Xavier." Casey informs him "You'll get to either meet then later or tomorrow, we normally walk to school together."

"Oh cool. So, Brax what time are we going shopping for uniform and school supplies?" Kyle asked as he finished off his breakfast.

"You are keen aren't you." Brax laughed "We will be going after lunch as I have to head into work and sort some stuff out."

"Angelos right?" Kyle doubled check after hearing him mention it yesterday.

"Yeah, that's right."

"I don't suppose I could do a couple of shifts, could I?"

"Kyle, if you keep going like this, I think Brax will replace me as his favourite."

"Oh, I'm not looking to replace anyone I just want to be able to earn some money so I can buy my own clothes etc." Kyle quickly said.

"I was joking Kyle don't worry." Casey said as he looked at the time "I better go we are meeting the others this morning as well."

"Ok, just remember come straight home so you can do your chores and homework before you go out." Brax reminds Casey who picks up his school bag and says he will before dashing out the house.

"I take it he doesn't spend much time at home." Kyle laughs.

"No, he prefers being out with his friends or at the beach surfing than anything else. Anyway, we better get ready for the day and you can come with me to the restaurant." Brax said standing up then quickly grabbing something from the shelf, "This is your key to the house."

"Thank you." Kyle replies putting the key down beside him "I don't suppose you would mind if I take a look around the Bay while you're busy at work, do you?"

"I don't know Kyle as you might get lost even though it is a small town."

"I can always ask someone how to get to Angelos if I need it?" Kyle told him.

Sighing, Brax agrees: "Okay then just be at the restaurant for 1pm."

Kyle nods and goes back to his breakfast while Brax goes to get ready.