AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I honestly wanted to continue with another chapter on Kyle but didn't have the chance to write one, so I'll see where I get to on that, but for now this storyline starts more drama with a teenage Casey as he finds himself hanging around the wrong kind of people, but how wrong?

Enjoy and thanks for reading/reviewing :)

Chapter 76: The wrong crowd

Thirteen year old Casey struggled to fit in with high school, he found the work tough, and he had no friends. He wanted desperately to be part of a gang, he felt left out when Heath and Brax would talk about the River Boys.

He kept asking them if he could join, but the age limit was fifteen and until he turned fifteen he felt like nobody, he was treated as too young for anything. He just wanted the chance to be taken seriously and feel accepted.

One day while Casey sat alone on the school grounds, a teenager, looking slightly older than Casey approached him.

"The name's Jackson Mulvin. I've seen you around a lot." He introduced.

"Casey Braxton." Casey shook Jackson's hand that he had held out to him.

"Why aren't you hanging out with any of these groups? I've never seen you with anyone." Jackson asked.

"I don't fit in." Casey replied.

"I know the feeling. I was like that too, but after my brother got me in his gang when I turned fourteen I've never felt more accepted and had a sense of belonging."

"Really? My brothers are part of a gang but I'm not allowed to join until I'm at least fifteen."

"Bummer. How old are you?" Jackson asked.

"Thirteen." Casey replied.

"Why don't I speak to my brother and see if I can let you join our gang."

"Really? Wow I'd like that." Casey smiled.

"See ya around Casey." Jackson waved and left.

The next day Jackson ran up to Casey. "Hey Casey. You're in."

"What?"

"My brother's gang. You're in." Jackson confirmed.

"Wow, thanks." Casey beamed.

"No problem. Why don't we hang out after school and I'll fill you in." Casey nodded and smiled, finally he would be part of something.

It didn't take long for Jackson to rub his influences off on Casey. Brax and Heath started to notice the change in Casey's behavior as well. He started coming home from school late, his marks had dropped dramatically, he wasn't doing any of his school work like he used to and he spent any time at home in his room.

One afternoon when Casey came home after school Brax approached him. "Hey mate is everything alright?"

"Yeah we hardly ever see ya Case, you're always home late and you're off hibernating in your room." Heath added.

"Everything's fine." Casey replied.

"Are you sure? If something's going on at school, you can tell us mate. I know you haven't been doing your homework and your marks have dropped. You know how I feel about you getting a good education." Brax spoke.

"I'm fine. Maybe I just don't want to do that stuff anymore." Casey replied annoyed.

"Case?" Brax questioned and Casey left to his room, leaving his brothers confused over his behavior.

Over the next few weeks, Casey spent more time with Jackson at school and hanging out in the out of bounds area.

"Here you wanna smoke?" Jackson held out a smoke.

"Nah." Casey replied hesitantly. "Go on it won't hurt." Jackson encouraged.

Casey took the cigarette and sucked in, coughing out. Jackson laughed. "It's always tough the first time."

Casey didn't like the foul taste in his mouth and hoped Jackson wouldn't ask him to smoke again. The bell rang for the afternoon class. Casey got up to leave.

"Where are you going? It's just the last two classes. Let's get out of here."

"I can't. Brax would kill me if I skip school. He's been on my back lately about my falling marks too." Casey replied.

"So what? I thought you were sick of listening to your brothers." Jackson spoke.

"I am…It's just…"

"Hey I understand. No sweat. You better go. I'll see you later." Jackson nodded a goodbye.

"See ya." Casey walked in late to his math's class and took a seat.

"I hope you don't make a habit of being late Mr Braxton." The teacher spoke.

Casey heard some students snicker. The math's teacher was discussing equations. Casey struggled in all his classes but math was one of the worst. The teacher had written an equation on the board.

"Can anyone solve this for me? How about you Casey? What is the value of x in the equation 6x +2=14?" Casey sat staring.

"Um…" Casey heard some of the students laugh. "He won't get that." One sneered.

"Give it a try Casey." The teacher encouraged.

"Don't ask Casey, he's dumb." "Yeah we haven't got the whole term for him to work it out." The students behind him laughed.

"That's enough. Casey just do your best and give me a number." The teacher encouraged.

Casey was getting frustrated with being teased. "Look I can't do it okay! So don't ask!" Casey stood up and threw his books on the floor.

"Ooh, he's got upset now." A boy from the back teased.

Casey ran to the back of the class and pushed the boy out of the chair and started punching him. "Fight! Fight!" The class chanted.

The teacher ran up to then. "Casey, stop that at once!" Casey settled and pulled back.

The teacher glared at him "Casey Braxton, go to the Principal's office now!" Casey picked up his things and left angrily.

Casey slumped in the chair as the principle sat opposite him. "I'm going to have to contact your older brother."

"Please don't call Brax, he's at work." Casey asked, he knew Brax wouldn't be happy getting a call from the school whilst he was at work.

"This is not up for discussion. Your immediate suspension starts now and I need someone to take you home." The principal then proceeded to call Brax's work.

"Hello?" The person on the line greeted.

"I'm looking for a Mr Braxton, it's the principal from the high school." The person handed Brax the phone.

"Hello? Is Casey alright?" When Brax heard that Casey's principal was on the phone he became worried.

"Casey is fine Mr Braxton, but I need you to come down to the school and come and pick him up."

"Why, what's happened?" Brax panicked.

"He is being suspended for fighting with another student." The principle explained.

"I'll be right there." Brax replied angry. He couldn't believe his brother's behavior, all of this just didn't seem right. Casey had never been this difficult.

When Casey saw Brax heading into the office, he turned away to avoid any eye contact.

"What the hell Casey?" Brax yelled.

After explaining what had happened, the principal continued, "I am sorry I have to suspend Casey for 4 days, but we have a no violence policy."

"Don't be sorry, he knows he shouldn't have reacted so stupidly!" Brax yelled and pulled Casey up by his upper arm. "Get your stuff and let's go!"

Brax pulled Casey through the school corridors to the outside. "What is with you Casey? Fighting at school!"

"Brax, do we have to do this now?" Casey protested, struggling to get out of Brax's strong grip.

"When do you suppose we do this Casey? I had to leave work to come and pick you up! How do you think I can support you boys if I lose out on money?"

Brax then smelt the scent of cigarettes on Casey. Brax leaned in to get a better scent. Casey looked at his brother suspiciously. Brax pulled away and gripped Casey's arm tighter.

"Ow." Casey moaned.

"Have you been smoking?" Brax demanded.

"What? No." Casey turned away.

"Don't lie to me Casey. How many?" Brax demanded. Casey didn't answer.

"Answer me Casey!" Brax jerked him slightly.

"Fine, I had one!" Casey yelled back.

"This is because of that new Jackson kid you've been hanging with isn't it?" Brax yelled.

"Why do you have to blame him? Maybe I wanted to do it!" Casey shouted back.

"Casey this isn't like you, ever since you've been hanging around this Jackson, your behavior has been unacceptable. You're dropping marks at school and getting into fights."

"Enough with school! Maybe I'm just too dumb okay!" Casey yelled.

"Casey that's not what I meant! Look I'm not happy with your behavior lately and I don't have time to argue with you! I have to get back to work!"

Brax pulled Casey towards his car. "Ow! Brax you're hurting me!" Casey protested.

"Good. Be lucky I'm not throttling you. Now move!" Brax yelled.

Brax dropped Casey at home and headed back to work. Heath arrived home shortly after. "Hey Case. What you doing home so early?"

"I got suspended." Casey replied in a grumpy tone.

"Ha. What'd you do little bro?" Heath asked.

"I punched some kid out in class."

"Woah. I bet Brax wasn't happy about that."

"Shut up Heath. Leave me alone." Casey stormed off to his room and slammed the door.

After sitting in his room until late afternoon, Casey decided to go and find Jackson at the local hangout of the gang. "Hey Casey. I didn't see you after school."

"I got suspended for fighting."

"Bad luck dude. Wanna smoke?" Casey shook his head. "What's up?"

"I got into a fight with Brax." Casey replied quietly.

"Don't worry about it man. You got us now, you don't need them." Jackson encouraged.

Casey stayed hanging out with Jackson and his brother until the night, by the time he looked at his watch it was almost 7pm. "Look I better get home."

"No worries. Catch you later."

When Casey walked through the front door, Brax and Heath were waiting in the living room. Brax got off the couch and approached Casey. "Where have you been?" Brax demanded.

"I went to see Jackson, alright?" Casey snapped.

"No Casey. Not alright. You were suspended today for fighting and not to mention your smoking."

"I had one cigarette! I hardly call that smoking!" Casey yelled and went to storm off.

"Don't you dare move. I haven't finished with you yet and you can stop with the attitude!" Brax yelled.

Casey grunted. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be hanging with that group, they are bad influence on you." Brax lectured.

"I don't care what you think!" Casey took off, storming into his room, slamming the door.