Big thank you to FrankElaza, who helped me pad this chapter out.

FrankElaza: Thank you for the review, glad you loved Casey's attitude.

Braxton54: Thank you for the review.

The Next River Boy.

Chapter 7.

"I'm bored. " Casey complained, lounging on the sofa. The two weeks since his grounding began had passed slowly.

"You could always help me in Yabbie Creek. " Ricky said, walking in - to the room. "I have a shoot."

Casey rolled his eyes, he didn't want to be his mum's assistant.

"It's either help your mum or stay here and be bored. " Brax said. "Or we can talk about your smoking. " Brax added, raising an eyebrow. "Your choice"

"Good luck with your shoot, Rick," Brax said, giving his wife a quick kiss on her cheek.

"Gross," Casey said, rolling his eyes.

"So, what's it gonna be, Case?" Brax said, arching an eyebrow at his son.

"I'll leave you, boys, to it. " Ricky said, with a smile, picking up her camera bag and tripod and heading to her car.

"I told you I was with Ryder. " Casey told Brax after Ricky had left.

Brax folded his arms. "Casey, I don't believe you."

"Why is that so hard to believe when I was?" Casey challenged his Dad.

"I just don't think Ryder would be one to smoke and be a bad influence on you. "

"Well, it shows what you know then," Casey smarted, smirking.

"Just don't do it again, Casey, I mean it. " Brax warned, folding his arms.

"Whatever" Casey mumbled, "I'm going to my room. "

Deciding to give Casey some space to cool off, Brax picked up his wallet from the coffee table, thinking it would be a good idea to get pizzas in when Ricky returned from her shoot.

As Brax walked in to the restaurant, he greeted Ryder, who was serving his aunt Roo. He made his order, and then asked Ryder if Casey had been with him.

"Confusion showed on Ryder's face before he spoke. "Mr. Braxton, Casey wasn't with me. " Ryder said, wondering why the younger boy had said he had been when he hadn't.

Brax scowled. "Thanks, Ryder. " He said, giving the boy some money and picking up the pizza boxes, walking out of the restaurant. He was going to kill Casey.

Ricky heard shouting, having returned from her shoot, a few hours later.

"What's going on?" She asked, walking in to the flat.

"Casey lied to us, Ricky. "

Ricky frowned. "Why?"

"He wasn't with Ryder. " Brax told her, giving Casey a hard glare, who in turn, rolled his eyes, not thrilled with getting yet another lecture.

"Why did you lie to us?" Ricky asked, folding her arms and fixing her son with a hurt look.

Casey shocked his parents with what he said next. "You guys don't have any time for me. You dragged me back here when I didn't want to come back. "

"Case, you grew up here"

"Don't call me, Case. It's a baby name. "

Ricky felt hurt by that, she had called him, Case ever since he was a baby.

"Don't speak to your mum like that," Brax said. "We both want the best for you. "

"The best for me would be letting me live with Uncle Heath and Auntie Bianca "

Brax started at Casey as tears filled Ricky's eyes.