Chapter 82: Rejection is a dangerous thing.

Casey returned to school after everything that went down with his brothers. Brax and Heath had a long talk with Casey about the gang and explained some of the incidents they had been involved in and why they were so strict on trying to keep him away from them and protect him. Casey understood and agreed to try and pick up his school work and promised to stay away from the gang members.

Casey was on his way to class when Jackson stopped him. "Hey. I haven't seen you around for ages. Why are you still living with those nasty brothers of yours, you know you have a place at mine?"

Casey pushed away. "My brother's care about me."

Jackson got in front of Casey and placed his hand on his chest. "Why the change of view?"

Casey turned away and tried to walk away but was pushed back. "Hey what's up?" Jackson asked suspicious.

Casey sighed. He didn't know how he was meant to tell his only friend he couldn't spend time with him. "I don't want to hang out with you and the gang anymore."

"What? You're not listening to your stupid brothers again are you? You know you can't rely on them. You said so yourself." Jackson's words only made Casey feel guiltier at how he treated his brothers.

"I can't rely on you either. You lied to me."

"What are you talking about?" Jackson questioned.

"My brother's explained to me why you and your brother are dangerous."

"Casey we're not dangerous. Your brothers are just trying to get in your head and control you."

"No they're not! You are! I can't be around you anymore and that's that."

Jackson felt insulted, the plan had failed. Casey walked away. "I'm going to class. I have a lot to catch up on."

"This isn't over. You've made a big mistake! Just you wait." Jackson yelled, causing Casey to worry, what did that mean?

"You excited about being the big one–four Case?" Heath asked his baby brother as Casey entered the living room.

"Happy birthday mate." Brax smiled and handed Casey a present. "Thanks." Casey smiled in return, opening his present.

Everything seemed back to normal at the Braxton household. It had been almost a week since Casey told Jackson to stay away from him and he hadn't seen or heard from him since. Today was Casey's fourteenth birthday and so far the day had started off as a hit.

"Are we still going to that restaurant for dinner? Even though I'm still grounded for a few more days," Casey asked.

"Sure mate. I think I can let you off a few days, besides I've been saving up for ages to take you out for your birthday, I can't let it go to waste and it's an all you can eat buffet, so… lucky I have saved lots of money, to cover for you two." Brax joked.

"Hey I resent that." Heath replied. The three brothers laughed.

Later that evening they were all dressed and ready to go when a loud smash occurred. The front window of their house was smashed and a large rock lay on the floor with a piece of paper attached. The outside of the paper had 'Casey' written in big letters.

Casey went to go and pick up the rock when Brax stepped forward, holding his arm out to keep Casey back. Brax picked up the rock and pulled off the note and read it.

"What's it say Brax?" Heath asked.

Brax looked to Heath concerned and handed his brother the note. "Show me. It had my name on it." Casey said.

"Look Case, it's nothing to worry about."Brax assured.

"Well tell me what it says. Please Brax." Casey begged.

Brax looked over at Heath. "Casey. Happy Birthday. I'm coming for you Braxton." Heath read. Casey turned pale.

"We'll sort this out Case." Brax said.

Casey turned and went to his room. Brax and Heath exchange glances and knew exactly who had sent the note, remembering what Hero's friend said about the Curers not liking when someone turned on them and that's exactly what Casey had done. Brax and Heath knew they were in for a fight.

Brax wandered down to Casey's room and gently knocked on the open door. Casey sat on his bed hugging his knees. Brax walked over to him and sat on his bed.

"Hey mate. Don't worry. Heath and I will get to the bottom of this."

"It's Jackson and his brother I know it. When I told him to stay away from me he told me it wasn't the end and that I just had to wait."

"Why didn't you tell me any of this?" Brax asked. Casey shrugged.

"Heath and I won't let them hurt you okay." Brax gave Casey's knee a rub. "Do you still feel like going out tonight?"

Casey shook his head. "I know you saved up for this and wanted it to be special. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, we can go another time, hey? I'll just have to explain to starving mate out there he won't get his buffet." Brax smiled, trying to comfort his brother.

Casey gave a weak smile. "I'm sorry your birthday turned out like this."

Casey shrugged. "You staying in here or are you coming out?"

"I'll stay." Casey whispered.

"Alright. I'll go order us some pizza then and I'll bring yours in when it arrives." Casey nodded and Brax stood up, brushing Casey's hair with his hand before walking to the door to leave.

Brax was about to close the door when Casey spoke, "can you leave the door open, just in case anything else happens?" Brax smiled.

"Sure. Heath and I are just a shout away if you need us." Brax walked back to Heath in the living room.

"How is he?" Heath asked.

"He's a bit shaken."

"Poor kid, on his birthday." Heath sighed.

"We have to put an end to this." Brax stated.

"I agree, but what do you propose we do?" Brax called for the pizza and sat opposite Heath as the two started devising a plan.

Over the next few days more threatening letters appeared in their letter box, except for one day. Casey walked into his bedroom after arriving back from the beach with his brothers in the morning and saw a familiar white note sitting on the top of his bed. Casey looked around and opened the note. "I'm watching you Casey. I'm coming. You won't know when and you won't know how. This will be your end."

Casey felt he would collapse, shivers ran through his body. Casey walked out into the kitchen where his brothers were discussing the waves. Both looked at the pale look on their brother's face.

"Case what's wrong?" Brax asked.

Casey couldn't say anything and handed out the note. Brax took the note from him and encouraged him to sit down at the table where Heath handed him a drink. Brax read the note.

"Where'd you find this?" He asked as he handed the note to Heath to read.

"It was lying on my bed." Casey whispered.

"Geez Case." Heath was just as shocked as Brax when he read the note.

"Did you say it was on your bed?" Brax asked and Casey nodded.

"Those scumbags were in this house?" Heath shouted. "It's not bad enough they have to terrorize Casey but to break in to plant notes."

Brax waved his hand at Heath to calm down when he saw his youngest brother almost in tears. Heath sat back down.

"I'm sorry Case. I didn't mean to upset you." Casey shook his head. "I'm scared Brax."

"Hey." Brax stepped beside his youngest brother and hugged him, gently stroking his hair. Heath got up and hugged Casey from the other side.

"They're gonna kill me." Casey whispered as a few tears slipped from his eyes.

"We won't let that happen." Heath said.

Casey rested his head down on the table in his arms and cried. Brax continued to rub his back and hair, while Heath squeezed his shoulder.

The two older brothers looked at each other and Brax gave a nod. It was time for them to get their plan into action. Heath lent down, trying to look Casey in the face.

"Hey you're a big brave fourteen year old now Case, you can't spend your time acting like this." Heath joked, trying to make Casey less frightened.

Casey wiped his eyes on his sleeve and lifted his head up. "That's the way." Heath smiled and rubbed his shoulder.

"Why don't you get yourself cleaned up?" Brax suggested.

Casey got up from the table but looked at his brother's worried. "We'll just be out here. You'll be okay. Shout if you need anything." Brax said.

Casey nodded and walked into the bathroom to take a shower.

When they saw Casey leave Brax whispered to Heath, "tonight we go to their hangout and finish this." Heath nodded.