Chapter 60: Heath's rebellion

Brax was 21 and had finally saved up some money for a car of his own. It was second hand, but at least he could drive his brothers to school, drive to work, and drive away from his parents when he needed. Heath was 16 and after he recovered from his drug incident he was still rebellious and often skipped classes to hang out with the surf gang.

The gang was very competitive and would often make bets with one another, it consisted of three guys, Jeremy, Anthony, and Matt, but to Heath they were friends who he could count on to get him away from his problems.

Meeting at the beach one day during school Matt asked, "Have you guys heard of Remington Hill?" Jeremy and Anthony nodded.

"What's Remington Hill?" Heath asked.

"Only the best place to car race." Anthony replied.

All three boys had their own car and license however Heath had failed his license test and needed to wait a few months before trying again.

"So who's up for a race?" Matt challenged, the two boys agreed.

"Braxton you in?" Jeremy asked. "But I don't have a car or a license." Heath replied.

"Don't be such a sap Braxton. No police ever go there, so we won't get caught. Besides doesn't your brother have a car?" Anthony spoke.

"No way, I can't take Brax's car, he'll kill me."

"Look at it this way he doesn't need to know you borrowed his car." Anthony replied.

"You chickening out of a challenge Braxton?" Matt teased.

"Hell no!" Heath spoke accepting the challenge. "So you're in?"

"Yeah." Heath replied, somehow not convinced this was going to work.

Brax was in the kitchen when Heath approached him awkwardly. "Brax?"

"What?"

"Are you working this Friday night?"

"Yes I am so you can't go out with your friends, I need you to stay at home and look after Casey." Heath nodded and left leaving Brax curious at his reaction, no protest, or arguments?

When Friday night arrived, it was 6pm, and Brax was getting ready to leave for work, he grabbed his car keys and looked at his brothers.

"I'll see you boys when I get back tonight. I finish my shift at 10:30. You boys behave."

"Don't we always?" Heath added, receiving a grunt and smile from Brax.

"Bye Casey." "Bye Brax."

Brax turned to Heath. "Look after Casey." He told him. "Yep...Bye". Heath replied.

Brax walked out the door and got into his car, driving to work. Heath shut the door and sighed. This was it.

"What are we doing tonight Heath?" Casey asked. "I'm going out tonight."

"But Brax said you had to look after me."

"You're old enough to start looking after yourself squirt. I have a life."

"But won't Brax be mad?" Heath grabbed Casey's shirt. "Brax ain't gonna find out is he?" He threatened.

"But..." Casey was interrupted as Heath shoved his fist in his face. "See this, you squeal on me to Brax and you're gonna get it, understand!" Casey nodded and Heath released his shirt.

"Where are you going?" "None of your business."

"When will you be back?" Casey questioned Heath again. "Arg! Enough with the questions Casey! Just keep your mouth shut!" Heath grabbed his jacket and walked towards the door.

"Make sure you behave yourself, otherwise Brax will have my head. I'll be back before Brax gets home." Heath walked out of the house leaving Casey alone.

Heath snuck into the car park of Brax's work and carefully busted into his car, hot-wiring the car to start it and drove towards Remington Hill.

It had reached 10:30 at night and Brax was exhausted after finishing his shift. He had been working so much lately to make ends meet for his brothers. Brax walked to the car park. Glancing around him, he saw his car gone.

"What! I don't believe this! If I find the scumbag who stole my car I'll kill 'em!" Brax was furious. He walked to the bus station and caught a bus to his street, where he got off and walked for what felt like forever to his house.

Brax stormed into the house and slammed the door. He was surprised to see Casey quietly sitting on the lounge.

"Why aren't you in bed?" He asked annoyed, but before Casey could answer Brax yelled, "Heath! Heath!"

Brax wandered through the house yelling for Heath. Finding no sign of Heath, Brax became more furious. Casey quickly glanced at Brax before turning away. Brax noticed his brother's awkward behavior and knew he knew something. Brax approached Casey.

"Where is he?" Brax questioned. Casey shrugged. "Casey if you know where Heath is you better tell me now." Brax ordered.

"I don't know, Brax, honest. All I know is that he said he was going out." Casey blurted out, as he shifted on the lounge under his brother's glare.

Brax groaned in frustration. "Why didn't you call me the minute he left you alone? You know I don't like you being at home on your own." Brax said annoyed.

Casey shrugged. "Sorry. He told me not to tell." Brax scoffed. "I bet he did."

Brax wanted to go out and find Heath but he wasn't going to leave Casey at home at this time of night. Brax was just about to tell Casey to go to bed when he heard a car approaching the driveway and looking out, he noticed it was his.

Heath was not aware of what time it was or that Brax had arrived home. Heath and Jeremy walked up the path raving about their win in the race. Brax opened the door and glared down at Heath and his car. Casey watched Brax storm out of the door up to Heath, surprising him.

"Where have you bloody been?" Brax grabbed Heath's shirt and dragged him towards the car slamming him up against it. "And what the hell are you doing with my car? You don't even have a license!"

"Woah calm down Brax. It's not like anything bad happened." Jeremy spoke. Brax turned to him and pointed.

"You shut up and get out of here!" Brax yelled. Jeremy raised his eyebrows.

"See ya later Heath." Brax turned back to Heath who was still pressed up against the car.

"I asked you to look after Casey!" Brax yelled. "It's not like the squirt can't look after himself!" Heath retaliated.

"He's 9 years old Heath, I don't want him here on his own! Where were you?" Brax shoved Heath again. Heath didn't answer. Brax angrily pushed Heath against the car, resulting in a groan from Heath.

"Answer Me!"

"I was at Remington Hill alright!" Heath yelled back defensively. "Now get off me!"

Brax glared at him, knowing this place was where people go to car race, in other terms, drag race. He had been there before with his friends around Heath's age and saw just how dangerous it could be.

"Were you racing?" Brax asked angrily, Heath didn't answer, so Brax took this as a yes answer. "With my car! Arg!" He slammed Heath hard against his car.

"OW! Brax knock it off!" Heath replied, defensively. "You stupid idiot! Get inside!" Brax shoved Heath towards the doorway to the house and slapped him on the back of the head.

Casey had stepped away from his brothers and was now looking at them from the lounge room. Once inside Brax grabbed Heath again. "You could have been killed Heath! Have you any idea how dangerous drag racing is?"

"Geez just lay off Brax!" Heath pushed out of Brax's grasp and pushed him backwards.

Brax glared at Heath and looked more furious, lunging towards Heath and pushing him against the wall. "Cut the attitude! You stole my car and were driving without a license!"

"State the obvious! I'm fine and your precious car is fine! So leave me the hell alone!" Heath did just not understand how upset Brax was. Brax gripped his shirt.

"You stay away from that place! You hear me!"

"You can't tell me what to do!" Heath retaliated. Having enough of his attitude, Brax could not control his temper and before he realized what had happened he punched Heath in the mouth, knocking him backwards.

Casey watched in shock. "Stop Brax! Don't!" He yelled as he watched his brothers shoving one and other. Brax stood backwards and saw Heath holding his mouth. He felt guilty at what he had just done and in front of his baby brother.

Breathing heavily Brax turned to Casey. "Casey I thought I told you to go to bed!" Brax snapped. Casey shook his head. Brax saw Heath stand up from the floor before he stormed off to his room, slamming the door. Brax turned back to Casey and approached him.

"Well I'm telling you now! Move. It's late!" Brax grabbed Casey's arm and pulled him towards his bedroom. As Brax turned to leave, Casey looked up at him with a worried expression on his face. "Brax?"

Brax sighed. "What Casey?"

"Nothing." Casey whispered. Brax groaned. "Get to bed Casey." Brax shut the door and walked back out to the living room and slammed his hand down on the couch.

The following morning Heath was already at the kitchen table eating breakfast when Brax walked out, he was still angry at himself that he let his temper get the better of him and take it out on one of his brothers. Heath just glared at Brax.

"Stay here and look after Casey. I will be back in an hour. I'm going for a surf. " Heath just grunted and turned away as Brax walked out the door.

A while later Casey woke up. Wandering into the kitchen he saw Heath sitting at the table. "Where's Brax?" He asked.

"He went out for a surf, it's just you and me kid. " He replied, looking up. Casey saw a bruise forming on his jaw and dried blood where his lip had split.

"Are you alright?" Casey asked. Heath grunted.

Casey sat down at the table. "Heath?"

"What Casey?" Heath sighed. "Is Brax gonna be like Dad now?" He asked unaware that Brax had walked in and heard everything.

He stood silent for a moment. It hurt him to think Casey thought he was like their abusive father. Casey turned and saw Brax looking at them and quickly apologized. "Brax I'm sorry."

"It's alright mate." Brax put down his board and sat down at the table, looking at Heath, he added, "Mate, I shouldn't have been so hard on you last night. I just want to keep both of you boys safe." Heath grunted.

"Great way of showing it." Heath got up to leave and Brax ran his hand over his hair.

"Brax?" Brax looked at Casey. "I'm sorry I said you were like Dad."

"Its fine Casey don't worry about it." Casey turned away and went back to eating his breakfast.

A few weeks passed with Heath barely talking to Brax and when words were spoken it usually came out in the form of aggression and lead to arguments between the two. Heath met up with his mates at the beach, it was a Thursday night. Anthony greeted Heath.

"Gee I thought you'd never show. Beginning to doubt your win?"

"No." Heath grunted. "We heard about what happened with Brax, hard luck." Matt added.

"I'm surprised he didn't kill you, the way he was acting." Jeremy said.

"So who's up for seconds? Are you game to test your champion skills?" Anthony challenged.

"No way Anthony. Brax flipped last time. He'll kill me if I do it again."

"Ah come on man, we need our champ there." Anthony pushed.

Heath thought, 'you know what? Stuff Brax, he thinks he can run my life all the time'

"Fine, but it won't be easy getting Brax's car."

"Awesome. It's set. A rematch Saturday 7pm."

Heath swallowed the lump in his throat, he wasn't sure about this but his friends were so persuasive and he had to rebel against Brax.