AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you all readers and reviewers for the support. We really appreciate it :)
There is slight swearing in this chapter.
Brax walks into the boy's bedroom and is surprised to see Kyle still in bed as the oldest teenager is usually pretty good at getting up without being woken up.
He walks over to Casey and shakes him awake.
Casey lifts his head and groans; he's not ready to get up yet.
"Come on Ky; time to get up," Brax says, before he walks over to his other little brother and rubs his back.
"You okay?" he asks.
Kyle turns to look at him and frowns.
"I'm sore. My whole body hurts now from when Heath sat on me," Kyle whispers and tries to pull his blanket up to snuggle back down but Brax stops him and pulls the blanket back down.
"You're just stiff, Little man. It's completely normal after overworking the muscles," Brax reassures.
Part of him wants to let Kyle rest at home today but he knows if he lets Kyle stay home then Casey will demand to stay home as well.
Kyle pushes himself up and looks at his brother sadly.
"Can't I just stay home and sleep?" he asks; not only wanting to stay in bed to sleep but also avoid the stupid PE test.
"Sorry Kiddo, I can't let you do that," Brax says as he runs his hand through Kyle's hair.
"You'll be fine once you get up and move. Besides you like school," Brax says and smiles at Kyle as he grabs his chin and lifts it up slightly.
"Now get changed," Brax orders gently and rubs his thumb on Kyle's cheek before letting his chin go.
"Okay," Kyle mumbles and pushes himself out of bed, not happy about it but he knows better than to argue with Brax.
"Casey: up now," Brax orders, tickling Casey's foot that was sticking out from under his blankets.
"I hate mornings," Casey huffs and kicks his blankets off.
Brax smiles satisfied his brothers were up and awake and exits the room.
Casey gets up and furiously puts his clothes on.
Kyle on the other hand is too busy thinking about the stupid PE test that he and Casey have today that his hands shake as he ties his tie and reluctantly gets dressed at a much slower pace than normal.
Casey looks at his brother and knows why he's nervous and doesn't want to be in a rush for school.
"Dude, it's just a PE test; it's going to be fine," Casey reassures, as he goes over to his brother and squeezes his shoulders.
"Easy for you to say; you're great at PE!" Kyle says sadly, lowering his head.
"Dude, just do what you can, that's all you can do, and if Aiden and his two idiot friends give you any grief, I'll make them back off," Casey says proudly, as he ruffles Kyle's hair.
"Cheers Case, but I think I might try to ask for a note to get out of it," Kyle says as he puts on his jeans and starts walking out but is stopped by Casey.
"You're kidding right? Brax is never going to give you a sick note. I've tried many times before but he's got superhuman vision or something because he can see right through you when you don't need one. Just suck it up and deal with it like I have to when it comes to exams," Casey states.
"I guess. I'm still going to try though," Kyle replies and walks out into the lounge, this time Casey doesn't stop him and instead follows him.
Brax is sitting at the table scrolling through his phone while drinking his coffee and eating cereal.
Kyle quickly gets himself some cereal and sits down at the table. He shuffles in his seat for a bit before he lifts his hand and looks at his brother.
"Ummm Brax?" he starts nervously.
"Yeah Kiddo?" Brax queries as he looks up from his phone.
"Can I ask you a favour, please?" Kyle asks.
"You know you can Kyle; name it," Brax says.
Kyle doesn't usually ask for much so when he does Brax is usually more than happy to say yes.
"Can I please have a sick note to get me out of the test we're having in PE?" Kyle asks and crosses his fingers hoping his brother will say yes.
Brax sighs lightly and shakes head.
"I can't do that, Little man. It is important that you are participating in all tests. I know you hate PE but all I expect from you is your best, and you know this," Brax says.
Kyle drops his head and sighs, knowing not to question Brax further as he will likely just get mad.
"Okay, I'll do my best," Kyle mumbles and sadly looks at the rest of his breakfast.
"Good boy; now finish your breakfast, you'll need fuel for your test today," he says, as he ruffles Kyle's hair, after having gotten up from the table to dispose of his bowl and mug in the sink.
"Okay," Kyle whispers with a hint of reluctance for he really doesn't want to, but he knows he has to.
"Told ya," Casey says with his mouth full of food.
Kyle doesn't bite, instead he just sighs heavily. He really isn't looking forward to this stupid test, but he better get over it because it's happening one way or another.
Kyle, Casey and Ryder are all getting changed ready for the gym test, this was the one day that Kyle didn't have to set up anything.
Kyle's hands shake as he unbuttons his school shirt.
"Geek," Wesley taunts, as he, Grant, and Aiden smirk at Kyle as he's struggling to get ready.
"Leave him alone!" Casey hisses.
"But why; it's fun. Plus, he's a geek, who deserves everything that he gets; isn't that right, nerd?" Wesley says, and shoves Kyle causing him to fall to the floor.
"How's the geek going to pass the test if he can't even stand up properly? The loser has no chance," Grant teases, laughing loudly, soon some of the other kids in the changing room join in making Kyle feel like even more of a loser.
"Just leave him alone!" Ryder yells as Kyle sadly looks down.
"Fine! Bye loser; see you in class where you'll make a fool of yourself!" Aiden taunts, smirking.
He and his two friends walk into the gym and Kyle pushes himself up and finishes getting changed.
"Kyle, I know that you can do this; I'll be there with you!" Casey reassures, knowing how nervous Kyle was.
"Me too," Ryder adds and reaches over and squeezes Kyle's shoulders.
"Can you magically make me coordinated?" Kyle asks sadly as he finishes getting changed.
"Sorry Ky, but you'll be okay. I know that you will pass, you're not that un-coordinated," Casey says as the three of them walk into the gym.
"That makes one of us," Kyle says sadly, "Casey, I'm seriously in trouble! You can do twenty-two push-ups, the best I've ever done is five; I'm just a little weakling!"
"No, you're not! Who has called you a weakling?" Casey asks.
"Heath, Aiden, Grant, Wesley, those year twelves from muck up day, random kids all through primary and high school and I don't know…. You!" Kyle says simply.
Ryder looks at Casey and rolls his eyes and knows it was typical of Casey, to have called Kyle a weakling out of anger.
"Let's just go! Get this torment over and done with," Kyle mumbles.
The three friends walk out into the gym and line up with their classmates. Once everyone gets there Mr. Gardiner starts talking.
"Okay class, today the test will include push-ups, sit ups, pull ups, one-foot-hops, hanging from a bar and we will finish with a mile run!" Mr. Gardiner informs with a smile, causing Kyle to sigh and look sadly at his feet.
"Okay one by one we will do the push-ups, sit ups, pull ups, and one-foot-hops. You will get one point if you do between 1-10, two points if you get between 11-20 and three points if you get between 21-30. You will get no points if you don't manage to get one. Luckily this is an easy enough test to pass. You will get a C minus if you get six points."
Kyle turns to his left as he hears Aiden and Wesley mentioning his name and sniggering.
"Turn back around geek!" Aiden hisses, causing Kyle to quickly turn back to the front.
"Okay, let's make a start," Mr. Gardiner says, and the first kid Bekka steps forward and starts doing push-ups.
Soon enough it's Aidens turn. He walks cockily up and quickly does thirty push-ups.
"Do you need me to do anymore; I can easily do another thirty." he says arrogantly and is sure to smirk at Kyle at the same time.
"No thank you Aiden, thirty is definitely enough," Mr. Gardiner says with a smile on his face.
Aiden pushes himself up and quickly gets back in line.
Both of the other bullies get thirty push-ups as well, Wesley makes sure to smirk at Kyle on his way back to the line.
Finally, it's Casey's turn and he does twenty-four, afterwards Ryder does twenty-two, and next it's Kyle's turn.
He nervously walks up somehow managing to trip on his way there. He realises that his shoelaces are undone so he quickly ties them up, ignoring all the sniggers coming from behind.
He walks the rest of the way and then lies on the floor ready to do the push-ups.
"Okay go!" Mr. Gardiner instructs and Kyle starts to do his push-ups.
Kyle manages to get up to six before his arms give out on him and he falls to the floor.
He once again hears sniggers from his bullies, but he is actually very proud of himself, that's the most he's ever done and especially after his ordeal with Heath.
The rest of the class do their pushups and the scores vary. Some kids get less than Kyle, but most get more.
"Dude! You got six, that's awesome!" Casey says proudly, as he and Ryder give Kyle a reassuring pat on the back.
"Yeah, it's my best but still, six it's pretty pathetic. You guys got three points and I only got one," Kyle says.
"You only need six points to pass the test, as long as you get at least one in everything you will pass," Casey says, trying to lighten his brother's mood.
"Barely," Kyle mumbles.
"It doesn't matter, you can pass and that's all that matters," Casey whispers just as the students start doing sit ups.
Kyle gets more and more anxious the closer he gets to his turn. Once again, all three of his bullies manage to do thirty and when it gets up to Casey and Ryder, they also get thirty.
Kyle walks up and gets ready to do his sit ups, he manages to do seventeen and then he can't do anymore, so he gets up and walks back into line.
"Nice one mate!" Casey praises and ruffles his brother's hair.
Next was pull ups. Aiden gets twenty-four, and Wesley and Grant both get twenty-two. Casey gets seventeen, Ryder gets twelve and Kyle gets two.
Next, it's time for the one-footed-hops.
Aiden gets thirty and on his way back, he smirks at Kyle.
"It's just hopscotch Kyles! You're a total girl; surely you can't screw this up."
Kyle lowers his head.
After Aiden, Wesley and Grant also both get thirty, as do Casey and Ryder.
When it's Kyle's turn, he manages to get fourteen before he loses his balance and falls to the ground.
All three bullies smirk at each other and laugh at Kyle causing his face to go bright red.
"Okay, now in groups of three hold onto the pull up bar and you will hang there with your chin above the bar. How many points you get will depend on how long you hang there. If you hang for less than 1 minute you will get one point, if you hang for between 1 and 2 minutes you will get 2 points, and if you hang for 2 to 3 minutes you will get three points. Okay first group step up." Mr. Gardiner instructs.
The first three girls step up and they all get one point, soon enough it's the bullies turn, and they all get three points.
Next, it's the boys' turn, after twenty seconds Kyle falls down and all three of his bullies snort with laughter.
Kyle blushes seriously embarrassed.
He watches and another minute later, Ryder drops down, as soon as he does he gives his friend a reassuring pat on the back.
"You're doing great mate!" Ryder says.
They watch as Casey continues to hang for the rest of the three minutes and then drops down.
The rest of the class do their bar hangs and the closer they get to the end the more nervous Kyle gets and his hands start to sweat.
"Okay, well done class. At the moment everyone is on track to pass," Mr. Gardiner says.
"Geez, even fragile, Princess Braxton; there's a shock," Aiden whispers to Wesley but not quietly enough.
"Do I need to take away some points from you Aiden for making comments about others?" Mr. Gardiner asks.
"No sir," Aiden huffs.
"Good! Then keep your comments to yourself!" he says firmly, "Now everyone, follow me for the mile run."
The class all follow Mr. Gardiner outside to the oval.
Kyle turns to his friends.
"I want you guys to do your best, okay, not run with me. I'm not taking you down with me," Kyle tells them.
"Kyle…" Ryder starts, just wanting to help his friend pass.
"No!" Kyle says, interrupting him, "I'll be fine."
"Fine, if you're sure," Casey sighs.
"I am," Kyle mumbles.
"Okay, if you run the mile in under ten minutes you'll get three points, if you run it between eleven and twenty minutes, you'll get two points and if you run it in twenty-one and thirty minutes you'll get one point," Mr. Gardiner says, "Now everyone ready?"
Everyone nods in reply.
"Okay go!" Mr. Gardiner shouts and everyone starts running.
Kyle watches as kids race off. He manages to trip over and groans as he hits the ground after the first few steps.
"Here?" he hears and sees Maddy Smith hold out her hand.
"Thanks," Kyle says as he's pulled to his feet, feeling utterly embarrassed.
"No worries," she says with a smile and runs off.
Kyle knows he has to try as well and ties up both his shoelaces before running off again.
He wants to finish this mile in under thirty minutes, just hoping that he won't trip anymore.
Casey and Ryder are standing with all the other kids that have finished and they are looking out for Kyle.
"He's got fifteen minutes; he'll make it. I mean he's un-coordinated, but he's fit enough," Ryder says hopefully.
Casey looks at Ryder and screws up his face. "Ryder, he sometimes trips walking to the toilet in the morning," Casey comments.
"Okay, so he's clumsy; just think positively," Ryder says, as he continues to look out for his friend.
Another ten minutes pass and then the boys see Kyle running towards them. They can see that he's a little muddy, and both assume he must have tripped over at least once.
He finishes the run with four minutes to go, with only three kids behind him.
As Kyle reaches the end, his friends pat him on the back and hand him a bottle of water.
The three of them turn around when they hear laughter coming from Aiden, Wesley and Grant.
"Hey, nerd: so you managed to finish; I might die of shock!" Wesley laughs.
"Na mate, I'd prefer the nerd to die!" Aiden adds smirking, causing Kyle to drop his head and Casey to step forward but is grabbed by Ryder.
"Just back off!" Casey yells.
"Fine; whatever!" Aiden says as the three of them start to walk away.
"Your bodyguard can't be with you 24/7," Wesley hisses at Kyle causing him to back away slightly.
"Leave!" Casey hisses.
The three walk further away and go talk to some girls.
Just then the last three girls cross the finish line.
"Congratulations everyone! Everyone passed!" Mr. Gardiner states.
Casey smiles and swings his arm around Kyle's shoulder.
"Good job! See you can do it," Casey praises, having faith his brother would pass.
"I did okay. I only got eight points; you got seventeen. No wonder Heath finds it so easy to push me around, oh and Aiden and his goons," Kyle says miserably.
"You passed, Kyle; that's all that matters! Besides, Heath and those jerks are jealous," Ryder pipes up, hating when his friend puts himself down.
"Of what?" Kyle mumbles and starts to walk to the changing room only to be tripped by Wesley on the way there causing all three bullies to laugh and high five each other, the girls that they are with are giggling lightly.
Casey steps forward to deal with the bullies but Ryder pulls him back as Kyle pushes himself up and dusts off his clothes.
"You passed how?" Aiden asks, causing the bullies and girls to laugh louder.
"How'd you pass year three?" Kyle mumbles before he can stop himself.
The bullies stop laughing and approach Kyle, this is when Ryder and Casey step forward to give Kyle back up.
"What was that geek?" Grant demands, causing Kyle to back up.
"Nothing," he whispers.
"Good! It had better be nothing," Aiden snarls and turns back around and grabs a hold of one of the girl's hands, "Come on girls, let's walk back to the changing rooms."
Kyle's shoulders slump, wondering why girls always found the jerks cute and not understanding how they couldn't see how cruel they are.
"Come on bro, let's get changed so you can go to one of your nerd classes," Casey says with a smile only to be hit on the arm by Ryder.
"You're not helping!" Ryder hisses as he sees Kyle start to walk away.
"Wait up man!" Ryder yells, as both he and Casey rush forward to make Kyle feel better.
As the boys reach Kyle, Casey throws an arm around his neck. "I'm sorry bro, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," he says.
Kyle smiles at his brother.
"Don't worry Case; it's all good," Kyle says.
The six friends are sitting down having lunch and Liam, Romeo and Dex notice that Kyle's being quiet, more than usual.
"So how was the gym test? We had it first period and I got eighteen points, Liam got sixteen, and Dex got ten." Romeo says, furrowing his brow at Kyle who was looking upset, picking at his sandwich.
"Ummm I got sixteen, Casey got seventeen, and Kyle got eight," Ryder informs.
"Dude! You passed, that's awesome!" Dex says with a smile on his face, but it disappears when he sees Kyle's still frowning.
"What's the matter mate?" Romeo asks.
"I'm just a loser alright! I always have been and I always will be, it's just better if we accept that," Kyle grumbles, as he tries to pack away his lunch in his bag, but Liam lightly grabs his arm.
"You're not a loser, Ky, you're the nicest and smartest kid I know. We're so lucky to have you as our friend and anyone that's got a problem with you isn't worth thinking about," Liam reassures and soon enough Kyle's head lifts up.
"Thanks. But Brax is still going to be disappointed in me," he says miserably.
"No, he won't! All he wants is for you to do your best," Casey says, hating how hard his brother was on himself.
"Yeah, too bad that my best is pathetic," Kyle mumbles.
"Please stop talking about yourself that way Kyle; you're the best!" Casey says.
Kyle looks up at his brother. "You really mean that?" he asks.
"Well to me you are! Don't let those jerks get to you," Casey grumbles.
"And to all of us. They're arseholes," Romeo says.
"You're ten times the man that they will ever be!" Ryder adds.
Kyle lifts his head and smiles at his friends.
"Thanks guys." he says.
Liam reaches over and ruffles up Kyle's hair.
"Don't you ever forget how bloody awesome you are Ky," he says, and Kyle nods in reply.
"I really appreciate it guys, just do me a favour: don't swear," Kyle says, causing all the friends to laugh.
After school the two boys walk into the house and immediately see Heath.
"So, how was the gym test; do I have a brother to wedgie?" Heath smirks as he steps closer to Kyle who steps back in panic.
Heath hurt him bad enough yesterday, the last thing he needs is for Heath to hurt him again.
"No! We both passed; therefore, you don't get to give Kyle a wedgie," Casey hisses and stands in front of Kyle to protect him.
"Awww that's a shame, I've been looking forward to it all day!" Heath moans, "But well-done shrimp, you're almost human!"
Kyle frowns in response while Heath laughs and roughly ruffles Kyle's hair as he passes the boys.
Just then Brax comes around the corner.
"Hey boys, how was the gym test?" he asks.
"We passed," Casey beams with a wide smile.
"You too, Kyle?" Brax asks, causing Kyle to nod.
"I'm proud of you, Little man!" Brax says and pulls Kyle close to him and roughly ruffles his hair.
He then looks up at Casey and smiles.
"You too, Champ. I'm proud of you both," he adds and grabs Casey and pulls him close, ruffling his hair also.
"Brax," Casey whines then smells something nice coming from the kitchen.
"Yum, what's cooking?" he asks.
"I've made Teriyaki Pork on rice tonight. It's in the slow cooker as we speak," Brax replies, "So why don't you both go relax after your big physical exam."
Brax watches as Casey immediately runs to sit on the couch to watch TV and Kyle's walks to his room before walking out again with a book.
Brax smiles at his brothers before going to his own room to have a quick lie down before dinner.