AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks for all the support! Slight swearing in this chapter.
Kyle and Casey arrive at school the next day and are approached by their friends.
"Hey Dudes!" Liam cheers as he punches both Casey and Kyle on the arms.
"Hey man!" Casey says as Kyle rubs his arm.
"You all good, Ky?" Liam asks, causing Kyle to nod.
"Yeah fine, had a good night last night; we had really nice Teriyaki Pork on rice for tea, then after we did the dishes I read comics," Kyle says smiling.
"No homework?" Liam asks as he knows most days his friend usually has homework to do, as does himself.
"All up to date. Also, a bonus was since I passed the PE test, I didn't get a wedgie from Heath; so that's a positive, and Brax was really proud," Kyle answers happily, causing the friends to laugh and shake their heads.
"Man, your lives are different to mine. If I didn't pass the PE test all I'd get told is to try to do better next time," Dex says as he slaps his best friend on the back.
"Yeah well, you don't have a Heath in your family," Casey says chuckling.
"Yeah, and I'm glad," Ryder adds.
All the boys talked about how hard the two Braxton's have it with a brother who constantly torments them and another who is tough when it comes to their upbringing. Although they all agreed that Heath would absolutely be in his brothers' corners if anything was to happen.
Just then the warning bell rings for the beginning of the day.
"See ya, I have music!" Kyle farewells and rushes off to his favourite class.
"Catch ya later!" his friends all call and disperse off to their own separate classes.
Kyle is about to turn the last corner before his music class when he's pulled back by his backpack.
"Hey, geek!" Grant sneers.
He's alone; something Kyle doesn't see much of but unfortunately he still doesn't have the guts to stand up to him.
"Morning, Grant," Kyle mumbles as he looks down at his feet.
"Funny little joke you said yesterday! What was it? You were surprised we passed year three?" Grant sneers as he grabs the collar of Kyle's shirt and yanks him up.
"I'm really sorry; I take it back, okay? Just let me go," Kyle pleads.
Surprisingly, Grant does let him go, but he also shoves him against the lockers.
"Got any money?" Grant sneers to which Kyle shakes his head.
"You better not be lying!" Grant threatens as he glares down at Kyle.
"Why would I? I know you're going to check and if I lie you'll probably shove my head down a toilet," Kyle mumbles, knowing that Grant would never let him get away with lying.
"Exactly," Grant laughs and grabs Kyle's backpack and dumps the contents on the ground.
He picks up Kyle's lunchbox and grabs his chips, yogurt, nut bar and biscuits, but then he pauses and grabs Kyle's sandwich as well.
Kyle stares miserably as all his food is stolen. He doesn't eat a lot, but he needs more than two pieces of fruit for the whole day.
"Thanks for the lunch food, geek! See ya in PE. Aiden and Wesley are looking forward to it!" Grant sniggers as he throws Kyle's bag on the floor and shoves him against the lockers again; he then walks away, shoving the food in his bag.
"Man, I love my life," Kyle mumbles sarcastically, as he kneels down and picks up all his books and his lunchbox and waits outside his music class.
Casey and Liam are in Math class when they hear Wesley and Grant laughing.
"What are you dickheads laughing at?" Casey hisses and the boys just laugh at him.
"Oh nothing; just that your skinny big brother may be a little skinnier after today," Wesley smirks.
"What are you on about Wesley?" Casey hisses.
The bullies smirk at each other.
"Oh, he gave me some of his food, so he's not going to have much to eat today," Grant teases.
"You dick, did you bully him and take his food?" Casey demands, angrily.
"I might have done, not that it matters, the geek's the size of a year six, he doesn't need much food anyway," Grant says smugly and with a shrug.
"He's not that small and it doesn't give you a right to take his food!" Casey hisses between his teeth.
"He's a scrawny little nerd, who cares if he doesn't eat; it'll be one less loser on the planet," Wesley laughs, knowing it was riling Casey up.
Casey shifts in his chair ready to lunge over the table at them, only to be quickly stopped by Liam.
"Casey: don't! If you get in trouble, it will only make things worse," Liam whispers but glares at the two boys behind him, concluding they are nothing but a couple of arseholes.
"They took his lunch," Casey protests.
"I get that, but things will be a whole lot worse for Kyle if you retaliate, you know what they are like," Liam adds.
"Is there an issue here boys?" Mr. Guthrie asks, approaching the center of the class to face the four disputing boys.
"No sir," Casey mumbles and turns to face the front.
"Good, well I expect you all to pay attention in class and not muck around and do the examples I have set out on the board for you," Mr. Guthrie says as he walks back to the front of the class.
Liam and Casey turn back to glare at Wesley and Grant who just smirk at them and hold up Kyle's lunch in a menacing way.
The first two classes came and went quickly, and Kyle made his way to morning tea to meet up with his friends. He sits down at the table and sighs heavily, noticing that all his friends are all looking at him.
"What?" he mumbles as he rests his head on his hands.
"Aren't you eating?" Ryder questions.
"I'm not hungry," Kyle lies as he sits up and looks down at his hands.
"Don't lie, Ky; when are you planning to tell us that Grant took your lunch?" Casey asks, causing Kyle to sigh.
"If anyone asked me about it," Kyle shrugs.
This causes the friends to sigh and shake their heads.
"How much food did Grant-stupid-jerk, leave you with?" Casey asks.
Kyle opens up his lunchbox and shows that he's only got his fruit left.
"Arsehole!" Casey grunts and turns to where Grant and the other boys are sitting.
"You should have let me smash him," he says to Liam.
"And get you in trouble right in the middle of Math class?"
"That wouldn't be helpful, nor a great idea. Like that wouldn't make them at all angrier at Kyle and they'd totally leave him alone?" Dex comments, "Oh, and on that note: let's go get food Kyle."
"Na mate, you don't need to do that," Kyle says, shaking his head.
Dex stands up and grabs his best friend's arm.
"Let's go!" he orders as he pulls Kyle to his feet.
Kyle slumps off with his best friend.
"You okay man; you can be honest with me after-all?" Dex asks as the two friends walk towards the canteen.
"Yeah, I'm okay. It's sad to say, but it's nothing new," Kyle mumbles.
"Why wouldn't you just tell a teacher or Miss. Scott?" Dex asks.
"You know telling doesn't help! What about that time those year sixes were giving the two of us grief in year three. We told a teacher and they got in a little trouble and then it only got worse. They called us snitches and continued to absolutely torment us until they moved up to high school," Kyle mumbles and looks at his best friend.
"Okay, yeah; fair point," Dex sighs, remembering his shared torment and looks down at his feet.
"Listen Ky, I know I don't get it as badly as you do, but I know how you feel. It's not fun being picked on," Dex sighs.
"I know, but hey: they say that one day the nerds will rule the world!" Kyle says as he smirks at his best friend, contemplating the positives in all this.
"I'm counting down the days," Dex replies, laughing.
"Me too," Kyle laughs, "Anyway, thanks for buying me food Dex; I really appreciate it."
"Anytime," Dex says as they reach the canteen, "Us nerds have got to stick together."
Kyle laughs at the comments and shoves his best friend lightly.
After morning tea Dex and Kyle are making their way to History.
"Do you have an idea what you are going to do about those jerks?" Dex asks, in which Kyle shrugs.
"Ignore it and wait for them to get bored?" Kyle mumbles sadly as they reach their classroom.
"Besides I've got something else to deal with at the moment," Kyle sighs as he sees Zeke, Haley and Damien.
Kyle and Dex sit down right in front of them and get their stuff ready for the teacher.
Suddenly Kyle is whacked around the head.
"Ow; what was that for?" Kyle mumbles as he rubs his head.
"Let me see, maybe it's because you're a loser, like your dumb brother!" Zeke sneers.
Dex glares at them.
"You're just jealous; so just leave him alone and stop calling Casey dumb too!" he says to the bullies.
The bullies don't get a chance to reply though as their History teacher walks in the door.
"Thanks Dex, but I don't want you to become a target, remember they went at me worse after I stood up for Casey," Kyle mumbles as Mr. Harrison stands in front of his desk.
"You deserve to be stood up for too," Dex says as he turns back to glare at the bullies.
They smirk in reply only making Dex more frustrated.
"Heath gives you so many wedgies, do you think he would give one to a bully?" Dex whispers in his friend's ear, causing Kyle to laugh.
"Not likely considering he's dating the Principal; he'd definitely be in the dog box," Kyle chuckles, "But he'd definitely threaten them."
"Why don't you do that?" Dex questions.
"End result is still the same, more torment and probably not just for me but for Casey too. I couldn't let that happen to him," Kyle whispers.
Dex sighs. "Me neither, but I just hate seeing you picked on man."
"I know, thanks for always having my back," Kyle says, smiling.
Dex shrugs in reply.
"You've always had mine," he replies.
After an uneventful couple of periods and a lunch where Dex had bought Kyle a ham sandwich. It is now time for Kyle, Casey and Ryder to go to PE. As usual, Kyle is not looking forward to it.
For the last couple of periods he had his smart bullies to deal with, but now how Aiden, Wesley and Grant, but is thankful he has Casey and Ryder in his class.
Once again, the boys had got there early so that Kyle could set up for PE.
One bonus of Kyle's punishment was that he wasn't in the changing rooms with his bullies as often as usual.
Today Mr. Gardiner had asked him to set up for handball, so that was easy enough, all he had to do was set up the two goals and place a ball in the middle of the court. He didn't even need Casey or Ryder's help.
"I hope we get to pick teams," Kyle says as sits next to Casey and Ryder.
"Even if we don't, chances are that you'll be with at least one of us." Casey says hopefully.
Suddenly Kyle's shirt is yanked back causing him to fall backwards and bang his head on the gym floor.
"Oww!" Kyle whimpers as he holds his head.
"Maybe it killed a few brain cells and you'll be less of a freak!" Wesley taunts as he pokes his foot on Kyle's ribs causing Kyle to twitch and grab ahold of his rib.
"Just leave him alone!" Casey hisses as Kyle sits up and shuffles away.
"Or what?" Aiden smirks.
"Or I'll…" Casey starts only to be interrupted by Kyle.
"Do nothing, you'll do nothing!" Kyle says firmly, as he pulls Casey away.
"They deserve to be smashed!" Casey argues.
"No, they don't; no one does. Just leave it; please?" Kyle begs.
"But, Ky!" Casey argues.
"It's not worth you getting in trouble," Kyle says.
Casey rolls his eyes. It was typical of his brother: willing to continue being beaten up just so he didn't get in trouble.
"Whatever," Casey huffs.
He walks over to the other side of the court to talk to some other kids in the class, while Kyle turns back to see the bullies smirking at him; luckily Ryder's still there with him for back up.
The rest of PE class was uneventful. Kyle was in a team with both Casey and Ryder and all of his bullies were on the other team. Kyle made sure to stay out of their way as much as possible.
He touches the ball a couple of times but passes it only fairly quickly.
After PE class and Kyle puts all of the stuff away it's time to get changed and walk home.
It's quiet for a bit until Kyle decides to break the silence.
"You excited for the surfing competition?" Kyle asks as he kicks the ground.
"Absolutely! I'm going to carve up. You going to watch?" he questions.
Kyle shrugs.
"Depends on whether I have homework or not. If you make it to the final I'll definitely watch it," Kyle says, causing Casey to huff.
"You're giving up watching my surfing to study; you're such a nerd; no offense," Casey chuckles.
"None taken," Kyle says, rolling his eyes.
"I am definitely going to win!" Casey boasts, "Those other boys don't stand a chance."
Kyle can't help but smile at his brother's confidence.
"What about your soccer game?"
"I'm excited for that too!" Casey smiles, "I'm just so talented when it comes to sports."
Casey smirks as he bangs his chest.
"What's so good about playing sports anyway? It's so rough and you always get muddy," Kyle mumbles, only really playing because his friends do, and because he has to in PE.
"You're such a clean freak! It's fun and it's something that you can do with friends. Besides, it's important to keep your body healthy. You're the health freak; you should know that," Casey explains.
Kyle sighs and rolls his eyes. In just a few sentences, his brother had called him a freak twice. Although not surprised, Casey always struggles to think before he speaks.
"Surely there's a sport you can do? What about swimming? You won't get dirty swimming and it's not rough and would help you at the beach too instead of just standing there at the water edge," Casey points out causing Kyle to shrug.
"Yeah, maybe," Kyle shrugs.
He's got nothing against swimming in a pool, considering it would be a more controlled environment than the ocean and Casey was right: it's just water and it's something he can do without fear of getting hurt.
"I'll suggest it to Brax," Casey says, causing Kyle to groan.
Casey chuckles and looks at his brother.
"It's important for you to have a healthy body, Ky. Besides, it'll be good for you to put some muscle on," Casey says, as they reach the house.
"Maybe then people won't find it so easy to push you around."
"Who is pushing who around?" Brax questions as the boys walk in the door.
Kyle nudges Casey and gives him a slight glare to fix the situation. If he didn't open his mouth Brax wouldn't have heard anything.
"Nothing. Just kids making comments, but nothing happened; they're all talk," Casey says and waves his hand like it's no big deal.
"Right," Brax says as the two boys put their lunchboxes on the bench.
"Okay, Casey, eat your apple for afternoon tea, seeing as you left it in your lunchbox," Brax instructs.
Casey rolls his eyes.
"I didn't feel like an apple today."
"But I see you had no problem eating your chips and snacks?" Brax implies with an eyebrow raise.
"Kyle, you finished all your lunch; good job, Trooper," Brax praises, smiling, and ruffles his brother's hair.
"Cheers Brax, yeah I did," Kyle replies grinning, even though he knows the only reason is because basically his whole lunch was taken.
"Anyways, what's for tea?" Casey questions with his mouth full of apple.
"I've been really busy today, so how about pizza?" Brax questions cause the boys to grin.
"Yum! Meat lovers for me!" Casey yells causing Brax to give him a sideways look.
"Please?" Casey chuckles.
"That's better and no worries," Brax says, "Ky?"
"Can I please have a Hawaiian pizza?" Kyle asks.
Brax to nod his head.
"Sounds good! Now boys, if you have any pizza left over you can have it in your lunches tomorrow," Brax explains.
"Can I have Kyle's leftovers?" Casey questions, causing Brax to rub his temples.
"No, Casey, you have your leftovers and Kyle has his," Brax explains, firmly, causing Casey to groan.
"But he doesn't eat much! How's that fair?" Casey huffs, "I'll definitely eat a whole pizza! He'll probably only eat half."
"That's just how it is. Maybe try to eat less and then you can eat some tomorrow," Brax sighs.
"No, but then I'll still be hungry tonight. Can't you order me two pizzas?" Casey whines.
"No, you are not getting two pizzas and that is final," Brax says firmly.
Casey lets out a groan and heads to his room in a stomp.
Brax shakes his head at his youngest brother's attitude.
"He can have some of mine tomorrow, Brax," Kyle offers, happy to share with his younger brother.
Brax smiles at his brother.
"Only if you're sure Kyle. I just don't want you missing out simply because you eat less and Casey makes a fuss," Brax says.
"It's not like I'm starved, Brax; I'm happy to share," Kyle smiles.
"I'm sure Case will be happy to hear that then," Brax smiles.
Kyle then grabs both his and Casey's bags and walks to their room.
The four Braxton's are sitting around the table eating their pizza and they are talking about Casey's surfing competition.
"I'll make sure that we get out in the water tomorrow, Case, so that you can practice," Brax informs.
Casey shrugs.
"I don't need practice; I'm awesome!" Casey grins.
Heath grunts at his brother and rolls his eyes.
"And super humble," Kyle mumbles under his breath causing Casey to glare at him.
Heath chuckles and ruffles Kyle's hair; the kid did have some cheek at times.
Brax can't help but chuckle.
"You can't be over-confident Casey, a little bit of practice won't hurt," Brax says.
"I know. But confidence is important," Casey chuckles, causing Brax to smile at him.
Brax turns to Kyle.
"Hey Ky, maybe if it's a nice day you can join us. I can finally teach you how to surf," he says, hopefully, having loved the moment he'd taught Heath and Casey to surf and was waiting to do the same with Kyle.
Heath and Casey laugh, and Kyle looks down.
"What?" Brax questions.
"Brax seriously? The squirt trips walking, how's he meant to surf?" Heath says howling with laughter, and he roughly ruffles up Kyle's hair.
Kyle's cheeks redden as Heath and Casey continue to laugh.
"Alright that's enough!" Brax yells, and the two stop laughing but can't stop the smiles on their faces.
"You know it's not really my thing, but thanks for the offer Brax," Kyle says.
"I did have an idea for Kyle for a sport he can start doing though," Casey pipes up, causing Heath to chuckle.
"I know what sport Geekboy could play; chess," Heath says chuckling.
"I already play chess and I'm really good at it!" Kyle protests with a scowl on his face.
"Not helping yourself there, Ky," Brax says laughing as he puts more pizza in his mouth.
"I was thinking swimming, I mean there's no way he can trip in the water and that would help at the beach," Casey chuckles.
Brax glares at Casey over his joke about Kyle, but concludes it sounded like a good idea.
"Well, that's a great idea Casey. How does that sound to you, Ky?" Brax asks
Kyle looks up and shrugs, "Yeah maybe." Kyle says.
Brax notices his brother's nerves.
"No pressure Little man. You just let me know when you're ready."
"I'll have a wee think," Kyle says and Brax nods his head in agreement.
"Sounds good, Ky," Brax says, as the four brothers continue to eat their pizza.