It's after school now and Kyle's making his way home; gutted that he's got to walk home all by himself, but it doesn't end up so bad.
To be honest, Kyle was more nervous about what was waiting for him at home; knowing Brax would likely be mad at him over his lack of effort in PE.
He walks in the door and immediately sees Brax sitting at the table.
"Hey Brax, I've got homework, so I'm just going off to my room," Kyle says quickly and tries to go to his room, but Brax stops him.
"Not yet; Kyle, over here now," Brax orders.
Kyle lowers his head and slump over to his brother.
"Bianca called me today; what's this with you not participating properly in PE?" Brax asks, causing Kyle to drop his head.
"I try," Kyle mumbles.
"Well, you obviously don't try enough Kyle, otherwise your PE teacher wouldn't have had to talk to Bianca about your participation," Brax says, scolding his brother.
"Brax, I'm sorry. PE just isn't my thing; you know that," Kyle says, sighing and looks up at his brother sadly.
Brax looks into his brother's eyes and sighs.
"I know PE isn't your thing, Kiddo, but how about you and I make a deal? How about you try your best and I'll support you, but if you ever struggle you come to me," Brax says, causing Kyle to nod his head in agreement.
"Good. Anyway, Casey texted me and told me that he's got soccer practice. I was thinking of going to watch it then bring him home; you okay here by yourself?" he asks, causing Kyle to again nod.
"I'll probably just do my homework," Kyle replies, causing Brax to nod his head and smile.
"See you later then, Little Man," Brax says and ruffles his brother's hair.
Kyle watches as Brax leaves and he heads towards his bedroom to work on some of his homework.
Heath walks into the house to see it empty and no sign of any of his brothers.
Knowing Brax wouldn't leave the door unlocked, Heath concludes Kyle must still be here, given the silence, as considering if it were Casey there would be far more noise in the house.
Heath walks into his little brother's bedroom with a smirk on his face as he sees his brother studying at his desk with his back turned to him and his headphones in, so he wasn't even aware of Heath's presence; this was perfect.
Heath had plans to help his little brother with his inability to participate in PE.
He quietly walks over to his little brother and whips his headphones off, startling Kyle.
"Hey, where is the big fella and Snoopy?"
"Brax went to watch Casey at soccer," Kyle replies.
"Well then, little Kylie, if it's just us, I've got a lesson to teach you," Heath smirks.
Kyle's face drops in fear; this is not good; Heath's lessons are never good.
He jumps to his feet and tries to run away only to be grabbed by Heath and quickly thrown over his shoulder.
"No, no, no, please no!" Kyle yells as he thrashes around trying to get down.
He wonders what Heath is planning and gets worried.
"Come on Heath, please!" he pleads with his brother.
"Hush now little Kylie, all I'm going to do is help you with your fitness so you can participate fully in PE. Bianca mentioned your teacher had a chat with her about it today and I don't like hearing about you being weak in such an important subject," Heath smirks as he chucks Kyle onto the couch and bends over him to flip him over.
Kyle tries to fight back. He doesn't know what is going on, but he doesn't like it.
Getting frustrated Heath sticks his pinky finger in his mouth and then in Kyle's right ear.
"Ahh," Kyle moans with discomfort, he stops fighting back and Heath is able to flip him over so that he is on his stomach.
Kyle tries to push himself up before anything else can happen but before he can, Heath sits on his thighs, weighing him motionless to escape.
"What are you doing?" Kyle whines lightly, wondering why his brother couldn't just let him be.
"I already told you, my nerdy little brother. I'm helping you with your PE skills. Now do a push-up," Heath orders as he wears a big smirk on his face.
Kyle twists his head and looks at him in horror.
"Please! Brax has already talked to me about participating in PE, you don't have to do this, please!" Kyle pleads, but his brother just laughs.
"The big fella was too easy on you then, little Kylie! I'm trying a different strategy, now do a push up!" Heath orders with a laugh, as he gives his brother's butt a slap.
"Ow! You're kidding right? You can't really expect me to do a push-up with all this extra weight on me," Kyle moans as he tries to make his older brother get off him.
"Extra weight? Are you calling me fat shrimp?" Heath asks as he places his hand on his brother's head and shoves it down lightly.
"No," he replies, with his face staring down at the couch cushion.
"Please get off me, Heath. Mr. Gardiner already makes me do ridiculous exercises; I don't need it at home as well," Kyle complains as he tries to wriggle but he just couldn't budge.
Heath is too heavy, and his arms are still sore from dragging the heavy gym mats, trying to get free was not an option he had strength or energy for. He whines slightly in pain.
"You better get comfy little brother. We are going to be here for an hour, a good long hour; unless you can give me a satisfactory effort beforehand," Heath smirks as he puts his feet up on the table to relive some of the weight but still not enough for his brother to escape, but making sure that his brother will not be too uncomfortable under him.
"Heath, please!" Kyle whines, as he pushes himself up with his elbows and tries to slip out, only for Heath to reach his hand over and push down lightly in his back, causing him to fall back down onto the stomach.
"That's not a push up, Kylie; now do a push up!" Heath says firmly.
Still smirking as he turns on the TV to watch the highlights of the previous night's AFL game.
"I can't! I can't do a push up with you on me, Heath, just please let me up; I'm exhausted!" Kyle begs.
Heath just laughs and reaches over and ruffles Kyle's hair.
"Why would you be exhausted?"
"I've been having to move heavy gym mats for PE the last few days," Kyle struggles to explain.
"There you go Kyle, there's another positive to this experience, it's helping you with your stamina. Those gym mats are easy-peasy," Heath chuckles.
"Now place your hands down and push up," he orders and watches as his brother continues to try and wriggle out.
"Give up Kylie, you are not getting out of here until I'm satisfied you've learnt some strengthening skills, to help you with your PE lessons," Heath says, as he continues to watch the TV.
Brax is watching Casey and his team kick a soccer ball around, first doing some warm-up kicking and running exercises then getting into a practice game.
Brax smiles, impressed at how good his baby brother has gotten.
Casey spots Brax during the game and gives a quick wave before turning his attention back onto the practice game.
Once the game is done, Mr. McKay orders the team to do some more drills to cool down their muscles before dismissing them.
Casey grabs his things and runs over to the seats to greet his brother.
"I'm so glad you came to see me practice, Brax! This lead up is everything towards the big game," Casey says cheerfully.
"I couldn't not come and watch you. You were really great out there, Case, and you've improved so much since the last trials for the final game," Brax praises.
"Thanks, Brax," Casey replies, smiling.
"How about we head home now, give you a chance to rest after practice, maybe we can pick up some dinner on the way?" Brax suggests.
"Can we have Nando's? We haven't had that for a while and I know Kyle loves that too," Casey asks.
"Sure thing, Champ."
The two brothers get into Brax's Ute and head into town to get dinner.
"So how much longer is it before the final game?" Brax asks.
"It's two weeks away now and I seriously can't wait. Did you see all the trick shots I made in the practice game today? If I can do those in the big game, I'll be able to score so many goals against the other team," Casey beams.
"Sounds great," Brax replies, not leaving his eyes from the road.
"Brax, you didn't say whether you saw or not. I've practiced a lot for those kinds of shots, and I really wanted you to see them," Casey pesters, craving Brax's approval.
Brax laughs and reaches over to give Casey's knee a squeeze and briefly glances over at the excited teen.
"Yes Casey, I did see all the shots you made, plus all the goals you made and the before and after practice exercises. I saw every minute and I'm so proud of you," Brax says with a smile, causing Casey to smile widely.
A short time later, as Casey is relaxing in the passenger side, he places his feet up onto the dashboard and Brax gives him an eye.
"Feet off my dashboard, please," Brax orders.
Casey takes his feet down, but his dirty shoes leave a mark, causing Brax to sigh.
"That dirt mark better come off," Brax says.
Casey instantly rubs the mark away with the sleeve of his soccer shirt, causing Brax to roll his eyes.
"That's not quite what I meant."
"I got rid of the mark, didn't I?" Casey says, cheekily.
Brax rolls his eyes and pulls up into the carpark of Nando's.
"Did you want your usual?" Brax asks.
"Yes please, and can I please get some chips for now?"
"Casey, I'm just about to order for dinner and we'll be eating in less than half an hour," Brax replies.
Casey pouts and looks pitifully at Brax.
"But I'm hungry now. I've been at practice all afternoon, I can't wait for another half hour. Please Brax, I promise to eat all my dinner," Casey begs.
Brax shakes his head.
"Where are you going to put it all?" he rhetorically asks.
"Right here in my belly," Casey says and rubs his stomach, while still giving Brax pleading eyes.
"Fine, I'll get you some chips," Brax relents.
"Thanks, Brax; you're the best!" Casey beams.
"Are you staying in the Ute?"
Casey nods, so Brax gets out and goes into Nando's to order.
Brax comes back soon after with a big paper bag. Once in the Ute he passes a small box of sweet potato chips to Casey.
"Oh, yum!" Casey beams and instantly scoffs a few chips into his mouth.
Brax smiles at Casey's enthusiasm for food and continues the drive back home.
Back at the house Kyle is still stuck under Heath.
"Heath please!" Kyle yells out in annoyance.
His brother has been on him for so long and now his legs really hurt, it has been a sucky thirty minutes not only has he been crushed under his big brother but said big brother has also been teasing him.
He hated it; this whole experience has involved his two least favourite things: PE and being picked on by his older brother.
"Listen here Kylie, either you do a push up or trust me I'll…" Heath starts but Kyle never finds out what he will do as he then hears his other big brother's voice.
"Heath Braxton: get off him now! Are you crazy?" Brax barks, causing Heath to get off Kyle, quick-smart, not wanting to anger his older brother.
Casey is standing behind Brax and is glaring at Heath.
Brax puts down the bag of dinner and goes over to his little brother and helps him stand up.
"You okay Kiddo?" he asks as he looks his little brother up and down.
Kyle replies with a sad nod, but tears fall from his eyes and his legs are shaky from being under Heath's weight for so long.
Brax pulls Kyle in for a hug.
"Aww Kiddo, I should have taken you with me," Brax says then turns to Heath and glares at him.
"What's the big idea sitting and pinning Kyle down like that?" Brax asks the oldest of his three brothers.
"I was helping him with his push-ups plus helping him with his stamina and endurance." Heath replies simply only for Brax to hit him around the head.
"Shut it, Heath! What a stupid reason. What you just did is unacceptable! How many times do we have to go through this; he is half your size!" Brax yells at his younger brother and shoves him in the chest.
"Get out of here and stay in the flat until you grow up!" Brax barks as he points to the door.
Heath looks appalled.
"You can't be serious, it was just a bit of fun," he huffs and turns to Kyle, "Aye Ky, no harm done?"
Kyle drops his head not wanting to meet his older brother's gaze.
"Get out Heath!" Brax orders, wanting Heath gone so that Kyle and Casey will be able to relax without fear of how Heath will treat them.
"You really are kidding me, right?" Heath chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief, "I have to go to my room, for having a little bit of fun?"
"Go, now, before I throw you out!" Brax orders and points to the door.
"Fine, I know when my big brother doesn't want me; doesn't even invite me to share take out, Nandos dinner before telling me to go," Heath huffs.
"Get over yourself Heath! And this dinner isn't for you, because I didn't expect you to be here; especially doing what you were doing to Kyle, so you can get your own dinner for once!" Brax hisses.
Heath storms off out the door and Brax then turns back to Kyle.
"Come on Kiddo, I've got us some dinner so we can relax and watch a movie," Brax says smiling as he ruffles his little brother's hair.
"I don't know, I kind of just want to be alone," Kyle mumbles in reply.
He has been minding his own business when Heath had hunted him down to pick on him and after his ordeal really didn't want to do anything, not to mention feeling tired.
"Heath's such a jerk!" Casey exclaims.
Brax reaches over and ruffles Casey's hair to quieten the teen then continues talking to Kyle.
"Come on, Kiddo, why don't you pick a movie for later, while I get dinner set out and Casey, you get yourself cleaned up a bit," Brax says to convince Kyle to stay.
Luckily, his little brother finally responds with a nod as Casey leaves to get cleaned up and out of his soccer uniform.
"Happy Gilmore?" Kyle suggests and is immediately pulled into a soft hug by his eldest brother.
"Great choice!" Brax says and messes up his brother's hair.
It was one of Kyle's, Casey's, and Brax's favourite movies and they could watch it over and over again.
Pulling out of the hug, Kyle looks down sadly and Brax notices him moving his legs that were still somewhat restless.
"You sure you're okay Kyle?" Brax questions with concern.
Kyle shrugs.
"Just a little restless still. I wish I'd been born with brawn instead of brains then today would not have happened," Kyle mumbles.
Brax firmly shakes his head.
"No. You know that you're amazing right, Kyle? You don't have to be the toughest or the fittest or the most athletic or the biggest, you are perfect the way that you are. I wouldn't change a thing about you," Brax says, as he pulls Kyle in for another quick hug, then pulls back and ruffles his hair.
"I love you, Kiddo."
"I love you too Brax, thanks for coming to my rescue when you did," Kyle replies with a smile.
"I'm just glad I got here when I did," Brax replies.
Brax then pulls out all the ordered food and shares some of the garlic bread, spicy rice, peri-peri grilled tenders and the peri-peri chips onto three plates then adds his double cheese and bacon burger onto his plate, Casey's mild classic burger onto his plate and a mild classic wrap onto Kyle's.
Casey returns and the three begin eating their dinner at the table.
Once dinner is finished, Brax clears away the wrapping and plates and returns with three containers and spoons and hands them to each of his brothers and keeps one for himself.
"What's this?" Casey asks, surprised.
"Didn't think I'd forget dessert huh?" Brax replies with a smile.
"Yum, this is awesome. Thanks Brax. This day just keeps getting better!" Casey announces, cheerfully.
Brax gives Casey a look when he sees Kyle looking down uncomfortably as he eats his chocolate mousse.
Casey turns to Kyle. "Sorry Ky, I didn't mean…"
"It's okay, Casey, I knew what you meant. I'm glad you've had a really good day. I take it the trials went well,' Kyle says in a quiet tone.
"Yeah, we killed it, and I got in some really awesome shots," Casey says, happily.
Kyle smiles and shifts his legs under the table and accidentally kicks Casey.
"What did you kick me for, dude?" Casey asks.
"Sorry, my legs are still uncomfortable," Kyle apologises, to which Brax frowns; he is still so angry at Heath, how could he do this to his own little brother?
"Heath needs to just stay away. Good on you for telling him off Brax, because he needs it!" Casey exclaims as he takes a large spoonful of his mousse.
"Okay, let's just keep our cool and not spoil our evening. Once you both finish your dessert, Ky, I want you to get dressed into your pyjamas and Casey you have a shower and get into yours then we can all relax and watch our movie," Brax informs, causing both boys to nod.
After a shower and both getting into their pyjamas, Kyle and Casey return to the living room and join Brax on the couch to begin watching Happy Gilmore.
Brax is sitting in the middle of the two boys and starts soothingly rubbing Kyle's leg.
Soon enough he feels Kyle's head rest on his shoulder and hears him softly breathing when the movie is only about 30 minutes through.
"Kyle, hey: go to bed, you can watch this anytime, I just really want you to get a good sleep," Brax says, as he pauses the movie.
His brother was a lean kid and the ordeal with Heath must have taken all the energy out of him.
"Okay," Kyle replies and pushes himself up and starts to walk to his room only to be called back by Brax who pulls him into a hug.
"See you in the morning Kiddo, sleep well and rest up," Brax says smiling as he watches his brother walk off to his room, he turns to Casey who is frowning.
"Is Kyle going to be okay?" he asks; his older brother seemed pretty miserable, and he just hoped he was going to be okay.
"Yeah, he just needs a good sleep. You know what Kyle's like; he always forgives Heath," Brax says as he ruffles his baby brother's hair.
He knows that Casey cares deeply for Kyle, and they are a great team so always look out for each other.
"That's the problem Brax, he always forgives him and then Heath can bully him some more and Kyle forgives him for that and then bang! The cycle starts again," Casey says as he looks worryingly at Brax.
"Heath adores Kyle. Yes, he may not always show it, but he does. Listen, Heath and Kyle will talk and sort everything out but until that happens you and Kyle just keep your distance from him okay," Brax says as he ruffles Casey's hair.
"Okay, but if it was me I wouldn't be so forgiving, " Casey replies angrily.
"Yes, I know how you operate: an eye for an eye and all," Brax implies.
Casey smiles and Brax pulls him into a side hug as they go back to watching the movie.
After the movie is over, they both headed to bed.
Casey walks into his and Kyle's room and sees that Kyle is fast asleep. After getting into his own bed, he takes one last look at his brother before going to sleep.