AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you everyone reading and to Bonnie Sveen Fan, Braxton54, and Guest for reviewing.
In response to Guest, thank you so much for the idea! It's definitely considered. However, the scene won't fit into this story, but definitely will be included in the spin-off story. In the meantime, Kyle does get his share from his brother in future chapters.
Kyle wakes up and runs the sleep out of his eyes and stumbles out to the lounge with one of the legs of his pyjama pants scrunched up halfway up his leg.
He walks into the kitchen and gets himself a bowl of cereal.
"Morning kiddo," Brax says and he walks behind his brother and ruffles up his hair.
"Morning Brax," Kyle says, yawning and running his hand through his hair.
"Casey not up yet?" Brax asks, causing Kyle to shake his head.
Kyle watches as Brax walks towards his and Casey's bedroom while Kyle goes back to slowly eating his cereal.
Brax shakes Casey awake roughly.
"Get up Casey!" Brax orders.
"No…why do I have to?" Casey moans and just snuggles in further.
Brax huffs and rips the covers off his baby brother, eliciting protests from the youngest.
"Hey! What did you do that for?" he yells grumpily.
"Get up now!" Brax orders sternly and remains standing over Casey's bed with his arms firmly folded, waiting for Casey to get up.
Kyle is just about finished his bowl when Brax walks out again with Casey stumbling behind him.
"I don't see why I have to be up this early when I'm not going to school!" Casey moans and plummets into the seat next to Kyle.
"Because I have a list of jobs for you to do, remember this isn't summer camp; you've been suspended," Brax says.
"For sticking up for Kyle," Casey says in a whining tone.
"Enough with the tone Casey, and yes I know you were standing up for Kyle which is why I decided to revoke your grounding. However you are still suspended so I am going to make sure that you keep busy," Brax says and ruffles up Casey's hair.
Kyle has now finished his breakfast and he places his bowl in the sink and washes it and then races off to finish getting ready. Apparently Roo was dropping Ryder off and they were picking Kyle up on the way, so he had to make sure that he was ready for them.
After quickly finishing getting ready he walks into the lounge where Brax hands him his lunchbox.
"Thanks Brax," Kyle says and places his lunchbox in his bag.
"It's meant to rain today; you got your raincoat?" Brax asks, causing Kyle to shake his head and race off to his room to get it.
When he returns Brax pulls him close by the neck.
"You got a ride home, Little man?" he asks as he knows that it is meant to be raining pretty heavily in the afternoon.
"Na, hopefully the rain won't be too bad," Kyle replies.
Just then there's a knock at the door. Kyle races over and opens it and sees Ryder on the other side.
"See ya guys," Kyle says to his brothers and grabs his bag.
"Oh, Kyle, can you swing by Bianca's office today and pick up Casey's schoolwork please? I sent her a text earlier asking to organise all of Casey's work he is going to miss from his classes and all his homework he needs to catch up on and leave them aside to collect," Brax asks.
Casey looks up and frowns. Wasn't it bad enough he had chores to do and now Brax wanted Kyle to bring schoolwork home for him when he wasn't even meant to go to school for two days?
"Sure Brax; bye now," Kyle replies and attempts to make it to the door but Brax pulls him back by his backpack.
"You let me know if those little punks give you more grief," Brax says and he kisses the top of his head.
"It's okay Brax; I'll be all good, it doesn't happen often," Kyle reassures with a lie and smiles up at his older brother.
"You have a good day, Little man," Brax says and once again kisses the top of his brother's head.
"Do I get a kiss Brax?" Ryder cheekily asks.
"Sure, Kyle: give him a kiss." Brax says with a laugh, causing Kyle to roll his eyes and for both the boys to walk away.
Brax shakes his head and turns back to Casey.
"Okay you finish your breakfast and then get started with this list," Brax says and places a list in front of Casey.
"But Brax, this is going to take forever!" Casey moans, as he looks at the list reading all the chores he is to do: vacuum the house, clean up his room, wash and dry the dishes, rake the yard, wash and fold the laundry and take out the garbage; he doesn't want to spend his day, or weekend doing this.
"It won't take that long Casey, besides you can't watch TV all day while the rest of us are at school and work and besides it's chores to be done for the remainder of your punishment, you don't need to have it done all in one day and some are daily chores anyway. However I advise the raking of the yard be first on the list after you wash up the breakfast dishes because it is due to rain, " Brax says and ruffles up his brother's hair.
"Okay," Casey mumbles and continues to eat his breakfast again but slower this time to procrastinate doing the housework.
Brax watches Casey for a moment and wonders whether he should trust Casey at home alone for so long.
Sure he could assess the standard of Casey's chores when he got home but that still didn't mean he could trust that Casey wouldn't sneakily watch TV or play video games.
Brax wanders out the door, leaving Casey wondering where Brax had gone, considering he left his wallet and keys on the table and did not start work for another half hour.
Brax catches Marilyn just as she is leaving her house.
"Morning Marilyn, I was wondering if I could ask a favour?" Brax greets.
"Sure Brax, what can I help with?"
"I was wondering if you were free today to just keep an eye on Casey for me?" Brax asks.
"Oh, is something the matter with the poor little one?"
Brax sighs, "No, he just got into a fight and broke a kid's nose and got himself suspended from school and with having to work today I just want to make sure he doesn't slack off from his list of jobs I've given him and does things I've restricted like watch TV or play video games."
"Oh my, I would have never thought a sweet boy like Casey would do such a thing," Marilyn exclaims.
"Neither did I."
"Well I can certainly help you out, but I'm just off to an appointment but I'm happy to come over about ten if that is okay?" Marilyn says.
"That would be great, thanks Marilyn. I'll be back a little after three," Brax replies, smiling at the older lady before returning back to the house.
Casey just finally finishes his cereal when Brax walks back into the house.
"Where did you go?" he asks.
"I'm glad you asked that. I actually went over to ask Marilyn to come and keep an eye on you today, just to be sure you will do what I have asked of you," Brax informs.
"Brax, I will. I don't need a babysitter," Casey moans.
"I beg to differ and she is not babysitting you, she is just monitoring that you keep busy with your list of chores and don't do any sneaky things I have told you, you are not allowed," Brax replies.
"Basically babysitting," Casey grumbles.
"Call it what you will Casey, but it's already settled. She'll be around about ten and I'll see you when I get home from work. Be good," Brax states, and leans down to give him a quick kiss on the top of his head before giving his head a gentle comforting pat.
"Okay, see ya," Casey mutters.
Brax smiles and grabs his wallet and keys from the table and leaves for work.
Ryder and Kyle arrive at school and meet up with their friends at the gate.
"Hey boys!" Romeo calls and punches Ryder on the arm lightly and ruffles up Kyle's hair.
"Hey! Why do I get punched in the arm and Kyle gets his hair ruffled?" Ryder complains as he rubs his arm.
"Cause Kyle's short," Romeo says smirking, causing Kyle to glare in his direction.
"What's wrong with being short!" Kyle asks and rolls his eyes.
"Nothing, it makes you even more adorable than you already are," Liam smirks and he ruffles Kyle's hair causing Kyle to swat his hand away.
"Let's go to class," Dex says, trying to save his best friend from more playful teasing.
"Yeah we better go," Romeo says but ruffles Kyle's hair one more time.
"Unbelievable," Kyle says and shakes his head as he makes his way to class.
Kyle's morning classes were great as Zeke, Haley and Damien pretty much left him alone in Maths and then in Science he had Dex.
To make things even better, in Science as a fun experiment they had made their own ice cream in a bag by using dry ice. Kyle thought it was awesome!
The remainder of the class was awesome as well as they watched Mr. Lambert do the next experiment.
It was all about how you can put dry ice and warm water in an empty coke bottle and they saw that they reacted together and were bubbling.
Afterwards they had put a balloon on the lid of the bottle then the carbon dioxide had blown up the balloon.
What made Kyle even happier was that they all got to try it themselves, and adding to Kyle's glee, the balloon that Zeke, Haley and Damien were using popped causing Haley to squeal. After all the grief she gave him and Casey it was nice to hear her squeal.
Kyle and Dex are now currently walking to meet their friends for lunch.
"Wanna muffin from the canteen?" Dex asks his best friend as he starts walking backwards.
"You don't have to do that man," Kyle says smiling at Dex.
"I want to; come on, Dude," Dex says as he throws an arm around his best friend.
On the way there, Kyle sees a two dollar coin on the ground and he picks it up.
"You don't need to buy me a muffin anymore man, I can buy it myself," Kyle says.
He keeps all of his savings at home, mostly so bullies or Casey don't take it off him, but now he's got two dollars.
Dex stares at his best friend.
"Kyle! I'm buying you a muffin!" Dex says and shakes Kyle's shoulders causing Kyle to laugh.
"Alright alright!" he says and decides to use the two dollar coin for something else.
He's wondering what he may get when he hears a year seven boy sigh in front of him.
"You're two dollars short," the canteen lady says to the boy who is trying to buy a sausage roll and a juice.
"Oh no!" the kid says, "I'm hungry and I forgot my water bottle!"
"Here," Kyle says and hands the year seven the two dollar coin, the kid turns around shocked that another student was helping him pay for his food.
"Thanks," he says and gives Kyle a shy smile and Kyle gives an equally shy one back.
The kid walks away but not without thanking Kyle once more.
"Awww! You're so sweet!" Dex says and roughly ruffles Kyle's hair, making it a bit of a mess.
"You're lucky you're my best friend!" Kyle says glaring lightly at Dex.
"What are you going to do? Cute me to death," Dex says smirking as he turns to the canteen lady and orders two muffins and two juices. He then hands a juice and a muffin to Kyle.
"You said it was just a muffin," Kyle says; he doesn't want his friend to spend lots of money on him, especially because he has food in his lunchbox.
"What are you going to do about it?" Dex smirks lightly and gives his best friend a slight shove.
The two friends walk and meet up with their other three friends.
"Hey boys! How's your day going?" Romeo asks the two boys.
"Yeah, not bad; can't complain," Kyle says, he then takes a bite of his muffin.
"Yeah great! We ate ice cream in Science today," Dex says as he opens up his juice and finishes half of it in one go.
"That's cool, why's that?" Liam asks.
"We were observing the use of dry ice which is a solid form of CO2 and we were watching as it froze the milk and cream so that it made a solid form almost instantly," Kyle explains.
"Right, and CO2 is?" Liam asks as he really struggles with Science.
"Carbon dioxide," Kyle says to his friend with a smile.
"Well that sounds fun!" Ryders says.
"What about you guys, how were your classes?" Kyle asks.
"Well, we didn't eat ice cream, so not as good as yours," Romeo says, as Dex and Kyle smirk.
The five friends continue to chat and laugh with each other and then ten minutes before the bell rings, Kyle pushes himself up ready to make his way to the gym, as he has to set up for PE.
"I'll come with you man," Ryder says, and the two friends wave goodbye as their friends walk towards the gym.
"Please, be class work today!" Kyle says to himself out loud.
"Dude! I don't think I've ever seen anyone be so hopeful to not do exercise," Ryder says laughing.
"Well I'm not everyone," Kyle says, causing Ryder to smirk.
"You can say that again," he says, as he gives Kyle a soft push.
'Kyle in return smirks at his friend.
"The two boys walk into the gym and towards Mr. Gardiner's office.
"Hello sir, what equipment would you like me to get out?" Kyle asks politely.
"We are in the class today Mr. Braxton, so you don't need to get anything out," Mr. Gardiner replies as he looks up at Kyle.
"Thank you sir," Kyle replies and he and Ryder walk towards their class and take their seats.
While they wait they each do their separate things, Ryder scrolls through his phone and Kyle pulls out his textbook and revises what they worked on last time.
After a couple of minutes Ryder laughs at a video he sees on his phone.
"Ha! Look: the rabbit jumped in the bin," Ryder says and shows Kyle his phone.
Kyle chuckles at the video and then turns back to his book, kids start to come in including Wesley and Grant, they walk past Kyle and pull his books off his desk.
Ryder is about to stand up to have a go at them but Kyle stops him.
"Ryder don't! It's nothing, just leave it," Kyle says as he grips Ryder's arm and pulls him down.
"Kyle, they're arseholes!" Ryder whispers.
"Don't swear, Ryder, look I know they aren't nice people but let's just forget about them. Casey already got in trouble because he couldn't let it go," Kyle says as he picks up his books off the ground.
"Why do you put up with them?" Ryder asks as he glares at the bullies.
"They're bigger than me." Kyle says and sighs; having answered that question so many times.
Ryder frowns at his friend; everyone is bigger than him.
Kyle can see Ryder looking at him out of the corner of his eye and looks up at him.
"I know that you're worried about me, but I'm okay," Kyle says, in fact he feels better today than he has most other days.
"Okay, but I'm keeping an eye on you," Ryder says and smiles at his friend.
"Thanks Ryder, I appreciate it," Kyle says and smiles at his friend.
Just then a paper ball hits him in the head.
Ryder reaches down and picks it up and puts it immediately in the bin.
"You're not reading it," Ryder says, not wanting his friend to be upset when he reads the words written.
"Thanks Ryder," Kyle says just as Mr. Gardiner walks in and the class starts.
Meanwhile back at home, Casey finishes raking the entire yard and bagging up all the leaves, which has taken him almost two hours, making it just after twelve-thirty.
He slumps his body against the rake and looks up at the dark grey clouds moving over the sky.
"How is the yard coming along?" Marilyn begins to ask as she pops outside to check on Casey.
"Oh, wow it looks absolutely wonderful out here, Darling. You have done a marvellous job and I'm sure Brax is going to be very proud of you," Marilyn praises.
Casey smiles over at Marilyn.
"Now if you are all finished you had better come inside before it starts to rain because I would hate for you to be out in that nasty weather," Marilyn says.
Casey packs away the rake and puts the bagged-up leaves into the bin and goes inside.
"How about I make you something nice to eat for lunch after all your hard work out there in the garden?' Marilyn offers.
Casey nods and sits down at the table as Marilyn makes a quick effort to organise a sandwich and glass of juice for Casey.
"Thank you," Casey says and starts eating straight away as the yard work had made him hungry.
Marilyn makes herself a cup of tea and takes a seat at the table.
"What do you plan to do next on your list of little jobs?" Marilyn asks.
Casey looks down shamefully.
"I guess I might clean my room and vacuum," Casey mumbles.
"Did Brax tell you what happened?" Casey asks after he finishes eating his sandwich and just stares at the table, buying time before working on his next chore.
"Yes, he did Darling, but it's not my business to question and I still think you are a very lovely boy," Marilyn replies.
Casey looks up and smiles.
"Now if you've finished your lunch, you should get back to that list," Marilyn explains and takes Casey's plate and glass to the sink and begins to get them ready to wash up.
"It's kind of my punishment to clean the dishes too," Casey states.
"Well think of this as a little favour, I'm sure you have plenty more things on your list you need to do, and I'd hate for your brother to get mad at you for not getting them done, now scoot and let me clean this up," Marilyn orders.
"Thank you," Casey says and runs off to his room to begin cleaning there.