It's Monday morning and Kyle and Casey are currently getting up and ready for the day.
"Morning boys," Brax greets as he sees his two younger brothers.
"Hey Brax," Casey greets and sits down.
"Morning," Kyle smiles slightly and grabs two bowls from the kitchen and the cereal and the milk and places them all on the table so that he and Casey can eat breakfast.
"How is your ankle this morning?" Brax asks Casey.
"It feels better, but still kind of sore and twinges at times," Casey explains.
"Well make sure you don't push yourself today by walking around to your classes," Brax instructs then asks, "Anything happening today in your classes, boys?"
Kyle shakes his head.
"No, nothing really," he replies and pours his cereal.
Casey disagrees.
"We're meant to be playing more basketball in PE," Casey smiles, causing Kyle to drop his head.
"Well, I'm sorry, Case, but if your ankle is still a bit tender. I don't want you participating in PE, so I'll write a quick note for you to give your teacher," Brax says, smiling at his two younger brothers.
"But I might be fine by then; PE is in third period," Casey protests, not wanting to miss out on basketball, especially seeing as he still had a score to settle with Romeo over who could make the most shots in one minute.
Brax shakes his head.
"Sorry Case, your ankle is not going to be miraculously better by then and I'm not having you making it worse where you will need to be off school for days because you can't walk," Brax informs.
"What's wrong with having days off school; I could live with that," Casey says casually.
"It's not happening. I want you to give that note to your teacher and that is final and don't think I won't check. Besides, Kyle's in your class and he can tell me if you participate," Brax says with a smirk.
Kyle glances up, not wanting to be the snitch but also wishing Casey would just stop complaining about getting out of PE. It would be his dream to get out of PE and Casey was getting that so easy.
"Ky, are you alright?" Brax questions his other little brother.
"I hate basketball," Kyle mumbles in reply.
"I always make a fool of myself. Why can't I have a note too? Maybe you can say I pulled a muscle," Kyle suggests.
Casey smirks.
"Doing what? Playing Chess?" he says laughing, causing both his brothers to glare at him.
"I can't do that," Brax says.
"Why not?" Kyle sulks.
"You know why, Ky. Just keep trying your best. I don't want to hear from Bianca again about your lack of participation," Brax replies.
"Kyle could have my note instead," Casey offered, hopefully.
Brax shakes his head.
"No Casey, the note is for you, and I won't be happy if you ignore my warning not to participate," Brax repeats then exits to the living room to write Casey's note of absence for PE.
Casey turns to Kyle.
"Hopefully, Mr. Gardiner puts you on Ryder's team today after yesterday and seeing as I can't participate, I can't help you out," Casey says, causing Kyle to quickly look over his shoulder to make sure Brax isn't listening.
"Yeah, hopefully. I just hope I can make it through today without being picked on. I envy you getting a free pass out of PE," Kyle mumbles in reply, sadly realising it wouldn't be likely that he'd go a day without hassle.
"Trust me, Ky: if I could make Brax change my name to yours for the note I would, but he's not budging," Casey offers.
"Thanks, Case," Kyle replies with a smile.
The two brothers finish their breakfast and then Kyle quickly does their dishes while Casey remains talking to Kyle about pointers for his PE lesson.
Afterwards the two brothers quickly go to the bathroom and finish getting ready, and after cleaning his teeth Casey walks out to the lounge and sees Brax now back in the kitchen.
"Here's your lunch and here's Kyle's," Brax says as he hands his brother two lunchboxes.
"Why are you handing me both?" Casey huffs.
Brax rolls his eyes.
"Can you put Kyle's lunchbox in his bag please?" Brax questions wanting to be out of the house soon, and he's not in the mood for arguing.
"Why?" Casey moans, he doesn't see why Kyle couldn't do it when he came out, or even Brax do it.
"Because I asked nicely. And here is your note for PE and please give it in, Casey. I know it might suck missing out, but it's one lesson, okay?" Brax responds, causing Casey to huff and to shove not only his lunchbox in his bag but the note for his PE lesson, then also shoves Kyle's lunchbox into his own bag.
"Where is Ky anyway?" Brax questions as he looks at his watch.
"Fixing his hair," Casey responds just as Kyle walks out of the bathroom and down the hall.
"Okay let's go," Brax says as he picks up Kyle's bag and passes it to him as he walks past him.
The three brothers get into Brax's Ute and make their way to Summer Bag High.
The teens farewell Brax as they get out of his Ute.
"Just make sure you take any pain medication if your ankle hurts, Case or if it gets really sore go and tell Bianca," Brax instructs.
"Yes, Brax."
"Have a good day, boys," Brax says then drives off.
Once inside school Kyle and Casey meet up with their friends.
"There he is! The winning goal scorer!" Casey yells as he approaches Liam and gives him a high five.
"It felt so good!" Liam says grinning and throws his arms around Casey's neck.
"That game was too close! I can't believe that Wesley shoved me off the ball! It was so annoying!" Casey huffs and rolls his eyes.
"Yeah, it was so unfair he caused you to sprain your ankle, but at least you scored more goals than Wesley; he was fuming!" Liam laughs.
Kyle's shoulders slump, he doesn't think that is anything to laugh about. If Wesley's still angry he may lash out at him; it was bad enough he targeted him the day of the game.
"Anyways you okay, Kyle?" Romeo asks as he sees Kyle standing there quietly, this causes Kyle to nod his head.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Kyle replies and nods his head lightly then looks down at his watch.
"Anyways I'm going to go to class, see you guys at morning tea. I'll see you in History, Dex," Kyle says and slumps off to English.
In English Kyle plummets into his seat and immediately hears a hiss in his ear.
"I missed you in the boy's toilets, Saturday, dork. We may have to catch up another time, maybe Zeke can join us. I know he'd like to put your nerdy head where it belongs," Damien hisses, causing Zeke to laugh.
"I look forward to it Damien. Maybe we can give the loser a wedgie as well," he laughs, causing Kyle to lower his head.
"I wish I could join! Oh well, I might drag him into the girl's toilets one day; that'll be funny. Although some girls might not be too shocked to see him in there. I mean he is a complete girl; a real sissy," Haley giggles.
Kyle's head drops further, and he sinks lower in his chair, just wanting this all to stop.
"Oh, and I almost forgot, I saw that imbecile brother of yours face-plant it in the big game on the weekend. I bet what brain cells he had died, and he didn't know how to function anymore, or maybe he's so dumb he forgot how to play and tripped over his own feet like you," Haley snickers.
Kyle scowls and is about to fight back to defend his brother but just then Miss. Jones walks in and the three of them walk back to their tables, but not before Zeke pulls the books off Kyle's desk but makes it like an accident.
"Loser!" Haley laughs.
Kyle bends down and picks up his books and slumps back in his seat.
After Kyle's English class he pushes himself and walks out the class as fast as he can. Sadly, his bullies catch up with him.
"We'll walk to History with you loser!" Zeke laughs as he throws an arm around Kyle.
"Soon you'll be history!" Haley laughs as she whacks Kyle around the head.
"Stop it, and Haley what you said about Casey…" Kyle whispers but is cut off.
"What was that?" Zeke asks as he bundles Kyle up against the wall.
He raises his fist to get ready to hit him.
Kyle freezes, this is why he never stands up for himself; all it gets him is more pain and embarrassment.
"No…noth...nothing," Kyle stammers and braces himself for the punch.
"Oi! Let him go!" Kyle hears a voice, and he immediately recognises it as Romeo's.
"Hey, calm down Smith, it's just a joke; I wasn't going to hurt the little guy," Zeke smirks, causing his two friends to laugh.
"Just leave," Romeo hisses.
Zeke didn't tower over him like he did Kyle. In fact, Romeo was actually a little bit taller than him.
"Alright. I guess we'll see you in class shrimp!" Damien taunts as they all walk past Kyle.
Kyle drops his head and runs his hands through his hair.
Romeo smiles at his friend before throwing his arm around Kyle's shoulder.
"Come on, I'll walk you to class," Romeo smiles.
Kyle shakes his head.
"No, you'll be late for your class," Kyle protests but Romeo doesn't listen.
"I don't care! I'm walking you to class and that is that," Romeo says, as the two start walking.
"You don't have to do this Romeo," Kyle says and Romeo nods.
"I know but I want to," Romeo says and the friends walk towards Kyle's History class.
When they get there Romeo can see Dex and Kyle's History teacher in class, therefore he's sure Kyle will be safe.
"I'll see you at break, Ky," Romeo says and slaps Kyle lightly on the back.
Kyle takes his seat next to Dex.
"Why'd Romeo walk you to class?" Dex asks.
"I'll tell you later," Kyle mumbles in reply; not really feeling like getting into it now.
"Okay, but I'll hold you to that," Dex says, causing Kyle to nod his head.
"I know," Kyle mumbles in reply; knowing his best friend too well to know he'd continue to ask what happened.
Kyle looks over his shoulder and sees his bullies smirking at him. He turns back to the front and slumps down in his seat, wishing he could have another growth spurt and be taller than them.
After class Kyle and Dex are walking to meet their friends for morning tea.
Dex grabs his friend by the upper arm.
"So, why'd Romeo walk you to class?" Dex asks.
The two friends stop and the other kids in their class all pass them including Zeke, Haley and Damien.
"Zeke, Damien and Haley were hassling me," Kyle admits, he knows there's no point hiding it as Romeo will tell all the friends anyway.
Dex groans and looks at his best friend.
"They're such arseholes!" Dex groans, this causes Kyle to look down, not in the mood to tell his best friend to not swear.
"Come on, let's just go to morning tea," Kyle mumbles and the two friends walk off to meet with their other friends.
As they reach their friends Dex sits beside Ryder who has Casey on his other side and Kyle sits between Romeo and Liam.
"You okay man?" Romeo asks as he nudges Kyle.
Kyle nods his head and pulls out his lunchbox.
"What happened?" Liam asks worryingly.
Kyle doesn't answer and instead just takes a bite of his apple.
"Zeke, Haley and Damien were pushing him around again, Zeke had his fist raised like he was going to hit him," Romeo says this causes all the friends to look at Kyle.
"Seriously, what is their problem?" Ryder huffs.
Kyle just ruffles the back of his hair.
"I don't know. I wish I knew," he mumbles in reply.
"It's cause Kyle's smarter than them and they're jealous!" Dex says to which the friends agree.
"Probably also doesn't help that I told them to back off teasing Casey; they've only been hassling me worse since then," Kyle adds miserably.
"It sucks they've been doing that only because you defended me when they hassled me and called me names that one time," Casey comments.
Kyle gives a weak smile, not wanting to admit that Haley had commented about Casey again as he didn't want to upset his brother.
"Why can you stand up for Casey, but you can't stand up for yourself?" Liam asks.
Kyle shrugs.
"He's my little brother, I need to look after him," Kyle says, to which Casey smiles but also feels like his pride has been tainted knowing his smaller and weaker brother felt the need to protect him.
"What about looking after yourself?" Dex questions.
"It's different. I have no fight in me when it's me being picked on," Kyle mumbles.
Casey can see that his brother is upset so he decides to change the subject.
"Anyway boys, who wants to play some basketball shots after school? Seeing as I miss out on PE, besides you and I still need to see who wins with our basketball shots battle," Casey asks, turning towards Romeo.
"Ah no! I'm not doing it in my free time. It's bad enough I have to participate in it for PE. Plus, I want to go home and read, and you shouldn't be playing sports anyway Casey with your ankle. If you weren't allowed to participate in PE Brax wouldn't be happy if you played outside of school," Kyle explains, trying to be firm with his brother.
Casey rolls his eyes, knowing Kyle could dob him in if he went to play basketball but knowing Brax, the oldest, always had a way of finding out things so would know anyway.
"I want to go home and read as well," Dex says, nodding in agreement.
"Fine you, nerds!" Casey grins and the other boys apart from Kyle and Dex smirk.
Both boy's respond at the same time.
"I like reading!" Dex says.
"Reading is cool!" Kyle replies
"Did you just say reading is cool?" Casey questions his brother.
"As I said before: you nerd!" he smirks, causing Kyle to glare at him.
Casey's smile drops, he knows he's upset his brother, and he feels guilty.
"Sorry Ky, you know I don't mean anything by it," Casey apologises, as Kyle nods his head in response.
"It's okay," Kyle replies, feeling slightly hurt being called a nerd by Casey.
Basketball after school, soon forgotten and for the rest of the morning tea the six friends talk about things like: yesterday's soccer game, their classes, and how annoying their teachers are.
Just before morning tea finishes it's time for Kyle, Casey and Ryder to walk to the gym so that Kyle can set up for class.
After Ryder and Kyle get changed, Kyle sets up the basketball hoops and Ryder starts taking shots. Unable to help himself, Casey grabs a ball and takes a few shots without putting too much weight on his injured ankle, until Kyle warns him that he wasn't meant to be doing any sports.
Just before class starts Kyle's bullies walk back in and Aiden roughly grabs him by the shirt.
"You better not be in my team again!" he hisses.
As soon as Casey and Ryder see this, they walk up to Kyle to protect him.
"I have no control over what team I'm put in," Kyle mumbles.
"Did you answer back to me, geek?" Aiden hisses as he yanks Kyle's shirt causing him to go on his tiptoes.
"Oi! Leave him alone!" Ryder hisses.
"Yeah, let him go," Casey growls.
Aiden let's go of Kyle's shirt and shoves him into Casey, who stumbles, putting pressure on his ankle.
"Ow," he cries out and glares at Aiden.
"Are you alright?" Ryder quietly asks, to which Casey gives a nod.
"You better pray you aren't on my team," Aiden barks and he walks away with Wesley and Grant who both glare at Kyle.
"I hate PE!" Kyle mumbles as he rubs his hands over his face.
Ryder shrugs his shoulders.
"Look on the bright side, you can drop it next year," Ryder says.
"Yeah, if I live that long," Kyle mumbles, dramatically.
Casey reaches over and squeezes his brother's shoulders.
"Come on Ky, you'll be fine. Just try to keep your distance from them, I'll cheer you on from the side," he comforts.
"Easier said than done Case, and thanks," Kyle mumbles, just as Mr. Gardiner walks in.
"Casey Braxton, why haven't you changed into your uniform?" Mr. Gardiner asks.
Casey sighs and takes his note up to Mr. Gardiner to hand in.
"I injured my ankle at the soccer game on Saturday and I can't play," Casey explains as Mr. Gardiner reads the letter.
"Very well then, you can sit out and watch," Mr. Gardiner dismisses and goes back to addressing his class.
"Okay Ryder and Wesley you're captains," Mr. Gardiner calls.
Casey smiles at his brother and quickly pulls Ryder back by his t-shirt.
"Get Kyle safe," Casey whispers, determined to make sure Kyle isn't going to be pushed around today.
Ryder nods his head, also wanting to make sure that Kyle is going to be okay.
"Okay: Aiden!" Wesley calls and high fives his best friend.
"Kyle," Ryder says, as some kids laugh.
Casey glares at all the kids then gives Kyle a happy thumbs up from the sidelines.
"Oi! Cut it out!" Mr. Gardiner hisses, unimpressed by how cruel some kids could be.
The two captains continue to pick their teams. They don't have the most athletic kids in their team, but all of the kids that give Kyle issues are on the other team.
"Thanks Ryder," Kyle says to his friend, thankful also that Ryder purposely didn't pick any of his bullies.
"No worries, mate. Those jerks aren't going to touch you. Anyhow I don't want jerks like that on my team," Ryder says, smiling.
Mr. Gardiner grabs the ball and passes it to Aiden.
"Let's play," he instructs.