AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Seems Brax and Heath's attempts to keep Casey away from the dangerous crowd have backfired. How much pushing will it take for Casey to realise what matters most, rebelling to prove to his brothers he can make his own choices or listening to his family?
Enjoy :)
Chapter 78: Heath to the rescue
A few days later when Casey had returned to school he met up with Jackson. "Long time no see."
"Yeah my brothers have been watching me like a hawk. After I came home late from hanging with you the day of my suspension they haven't let me out of their sight. It's annoying. They think they can still treat me like a little kid!"
Jackson shrugged. "That sucks man."
"They tried telling me that you and your brother are dangerous and that I have to stay away from you or else." Casey explained.
Jackson became curious and scoffed. "Yeah right. What did you say?"
"I told them they were lying. They just want to ruin my life."
Jackson smirked to himself. The first stage of turning Casey against his family was well under way. He had him right where he wanted him.
Jackson jumped off the brick wall and placed his arm around Casey's shoulders. "What you need is some time away from your brothers. What's say you spend the night at my place tonight."
"I don't know."
"Come on. You said yourself your brothers only want to control you, they don't care. Spend the night at my place and my brother and I will be there for you."
Casey sighed, he was sick of his brothers being on his back. "Alright but I won't stay the whole night, just the afternoon."
"Okay, if you say so, but you have the choice if you want it." Casey smiled. "Thanks."
"Hey I'll walk you to class." Jackson encouraged.
After school Casey walked to Jackson's house and was greeted by his brother. "Hey Casey. Jackson's told me a lot about you. It's finally nice to meet you. I always seem to miss you when I get to the hangout."
"Yeah, that's cause I usually have to go home." Casey replied.
"Ah, yes Jackson's told me about the troubles with your brothers. Well you are always welcome to stay here. We won't treat you with disrespect."
"Thanks." Casey replied.
Hero smiled at his brother with approval, Jackson had completed his mission in drawing in another follower.
Heath was at home alone, Brax was still at work. Heath glanced at the clock, 5:30pm and still no sign of Casey. Heath immediately knew Casey was probably hanging out with Jackson and it infuriated him.
Grabbing his house keys he stormed out the door and went to find Casey. Along the way Heath saw someone from Casey's school and ran up to them. "Hey, have you seen Casey around this afternoon."
"No but I did see him leave with a guy in year 8. I think his name's…"
"No it's alright I know who it is. Do you know where this guy lives?" Heath asked.
"I'm not sure exactly but I have seen him walking towards Chevling Drive."
"Great thanks mate." Heath tapped the kid on the back and ran towards the street.
Lucky enough Heath saw Jackson picking up something from his front yard before disappearing back inside. Heath ran as fast as he could towards the house and bashed on the door.
"Hello. Who are…?" Hero was cut off and Heath looked around him. "I wanna see Casey. Where is he?" Heath demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Hero replied.
"Don't play dumb! Where's my brother?" Heath demanded and tried to push past Hero.
"I'm going to ask you to leave my property before I call the police to have you removed." Hero threatened.
"Yeah call the police. I'm sure they'd be glad to hear about the things you do!" Heath snapped.
"You have no proof. Now leave!"
"I ain't going anywhere!" Heath stood strong, crossing his arms.
Inside Jackson and Casey heard Hero arguing with someone at the door and as they got closer Casey heard Heath's voice. Casey stood back and was angered to see his brother on his friend's door-step. They just would not leave him alone.
"Heath what are you doing here?" Casey questioned annoyed.
Heath set eyes on Casey and yelled. "Casey get out here now!"
"You don't have to go if you don't want to Casey." Hero spoke.
"Yes he does! Casey Now!" Heath yelled louder.
"No I'm not going. I'm staying here!" Casey yelled back.
"Don't make me come in there and get you Casey!" Heath warned.
"That won't be happening." Hero threatened.
"Leave me alone Heath!" Casey yelled.
"Fine. I'll give you two options Casey. You get your butt out here now and come with me or I call Brax and get him to come down here and drag you out! Personally I suggest you choose the first option." Heath warned.
Casey hesitated. "Ten seconds Casey." Heath pulled his phone out ready to call Brax.
"Arg!" Casey took one look at his friend and stormed out of the house. "I can't believe you!" He yelled at Heath.
As soon as Casey was near the door Heath grabbed his upper arm and dragged him out.
"We're here if you need us Casey." Hero yelled.
Heath glared at them. "Well he won't be needing you, cause he won't be coming near you!" Heath jerked Casey and shoved him down the path, not letting go of his iron grip on Casey's arm.
"Ow! Stop shoving me!" Casey protested as he struggled in Heath's grip.
"What were you thinking? Brax told you to stay away from them!" Heath yelled at his brother.
"I can look after myself!" Casey snapped.
"What do you think Brax'll do to ya when he find out you went to that morons place behind his back?"
"You said you weren't gonna tell him and he's not a moron, he's my friend!" Casey defended.
"I never said that Casey, I just gave you an option if you wanted Brax to come and get you himself. He'll find out when he gets back from work. And Jackson and his brother are morons." Heath replied firmly.
"Shut up Heath!"
"Don't you tell me to shut up!" Heath yelled.
"Dumb butt." Casey mumbled, but loud enough for Heath to hear. They stopped a few houses away from their home. "What did you call me?"
"You heard." Casey said venomously.
Heath gripped Casey tighter. "Oww!" Casey moaned. "Get moving! Inside now!"
Heath shoved Casey inside and finally released his arm, leaving a red mark where he had gripped him. The two continued to argue. "Heath just please don't tell Brax, he'll kill me!"
"Brax will do more than just kill ya. You should have thought about that before you went behind his back."
"Look I'm sorry I called you a dumb butt. Okay!" Casey protested.
"Alright… I won't tell him. You will… Either way Casey, Brax is finding out."
"Arg!" Casey screamed frustrated.
Brax pulled up outside and heard the yelling. He rushed in and got between them. "Oi! Oi! Oi! Enough!" Brax yelled.
Both his brothers glared at each other. "Would somebody like to tell me what's going on?" Brax demanded.
Heath glared at Casey, giving him a harsh look trying to give him the chance to tell Brax, but Casey stayed silent. Brax glared at them both, waiting for an answer.
"You telling him Casey or will I?"
Brax looked to Casey. "Tell me what? Casey?"
"What difference does it make?" Casey retorted at Heath before turning away.
"Heath, will you please tell me what's going on?"
"Your golden boy here went behind your back and went to the Mulvin's house. I had to find out where they lived and go over there and get him and let's just say he was reluctant to comply." Heath explained.
Brax grabbed Casey by the arm. "Casey?"
"Not to mention calling me a name under the sun."
"I said sorry for that!" Casey yelled at Heath.
"Hey, look at me!" Brax yelled and tugged on Casey's arm.
Casey looked up at his brother reluctantly. "I told you to stay away from them!"
"So I heard. Stop treating me like a kid! I can take care of myself!" Casey spat back.
Brax released Casey's arm. "Oh you can, can you? Casey you are thirteen years old! You are a kid and you do what I tell you! Do you understand?" Brax yelled.
Casey looked away, but knew this was not an argument his brother was going to let him get away with. "Fine!" Casey spat.
"Good…You're grounded." Brax told him firmly.
"What! Brax that's not fair! I've never been grounded before!" Casey complained.
"First time for everything Casey." Heath smirked.
"Shut up Heath!" Casey yelled, but was quickly cut off by Brax. "Oi! One month."
"Arg! This is stupid!" Casey protested.
"You wanna argue with me Casey?" Brax threatened. Knowing Brax could make things far worse for him Casey backed down. "No."
"Right then." Brax finished.
Casey then stormed away from his brothers, slamming his bedroom door hard enough for it to almost fall off its hinges.
Heath yelled out, "What were you saying about being a kid Casey? Because you sure are acting like one now!"
Casey grumbled in his room. "How could they do this to me? Don't they care?"
Casey sat down on his bed, he felt betrayed. He was always so close to his brothers, especially Brax and now they seemed like they were always against him. Casey just knew he could no longer manage this. Casey snuck out of his window and headed to the one place he felt he belonged.
Jackson answered the door. "Hey Casey. Back so soon?"
"I can't take it anymore. I don't know why my brothers are against me so much. I mean Brax grounded me and he's never done that before. I have no-where else to go." Casey pleaded.
Jackson smiled. "Welcome to your new life here with us." He led Casey inside.
"Hi Casey. Glad to see you back." Hero greeted. "Did you have much trouble with that brother of yours that came here giving ya grief?"
"Yeah he couldn't keep his mouth shut and leave me alone and when my oldest brother found out he went nuts. Why can't they just accept me and understand."
Hero walked to Casey. "You have us now. We'll be your family. Hey we're having a party tonight down at the docks, it would be great to have you come. We will have a special initiation task for you so you can be officially one of us." Casey smiled. Finally he was part of something.
While Casey was getting ready, Hero pulled Jackson aside. "Now I have a plan for tonight, it won't be anything big to turn him off. If he refuses then it's up to us to teach him his new rules of this gang, but with knowing his brothers are against him, he won't have a choice."
"Are you sure this is right?" Jackson asked. "I'm sure little bro. You done good."