Authors Note: I'm so sorry this took so long I've been really busy working on a story with FrankElza, if you haven't read it yet, go check it out. But I'm back at my stories now and am getting back in to them.

WARNING: MENTION OF AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

"Hey Kyle." Trent says, causing Kyle to screw up his face in confusion. He reckons this is the first time that Trent has ever called him by his name. It's usually Kylie, KyQ or some variation of loser or nerd.

"Hey, Ky." Mac said, wanting to ease the tension. Kyle looked at her and frowned.

Kyle freezes. He doesn't know what to do. His voice just won't work; it isn't functioning properly.

"Kyle, I know there's no excuse for what I've done. But I just want a chance to apologize." Trent said, causing Kyle to think about it for a bit before nodding his head.

"You sure, Kyle?" Brax asked. He wanted to make sure this was something Kyle actually wanted to do.

"Ahhh yeah I'm sure. Can we have a moment, please?" Kyle asks, relieved that his voice is finally working. The boys shake their heads in response.

"Nup, no way. We aren't leaving you here with him!" Heath hissed and pointed at Trent.

"Please," he says. "Tam will be here; I'll be okay." This causes both of his brothers to huff.

"Fine. But yell out if he does anything and we'll be back in ready to sort it out." Brax says as he shouldered barged past Trent. Heath followed him but glared at Trent on his way out.

Heath hissed before walking out as well. "You touch him and I swear you're dead," he said. Trent gave his shoulder a rub; he was definitely not used to being pushed around.

The four young adults stood awkwardly in the living room.

"Shall we all sit down?" Tamara suggested as she grabbed Kyle's hand and led him to sit down. Mac and Trent sat down as well, with Mac squeezing his hand.

"Listen, Kyle. I am truly sorry for how I treated you in high school. It was cruel and stupid and immature." Trent says, causing Kyle to nod slightly.

"Why'd you do it?" Kyle asked. He never understood why they pushed him around and made him do all their homework.

"I know there's no right excuse, but mine was that my dad always told me that I was worthless and dumb. He said I was a disgrace, then he would beat me up. It hurt, so I lashed out. I hurt you because you were the person my dad wanted me to be, smart, polite and friendly. I hurt you because I could never be you." Trent explained, causing Kyle to look up in surprise.

He took a deep breath, preparing himself to get it off his chest. He was afraid Trent would lash out and attack him.

"Do you know what it's like to be pushed around and tormented by ten kids?" Kyle asks, causing Trent to nod.

"I know. I never truly understood what bullying does to a person until I walked in on my brother cutting his wrists. He was being picked on by kids at school and he couldn't take it anymore. He was too scared of them to even tell anyone. I felt sick that I put you through that." Trent said, causing Kyle to nod.

"I know you may never forgive me for what I did to you, but I need you to know that I regret it. I'm so sorry, Kyle." Trent said.

Tamara rubs Kyle's back and smiles at him. "Your dad was wrong," she says softly. Kyle clears his throat. "I'm sorry he beat you. No one deserves that." He mumbles.

"It doesn't mean what I did to you was right," Trent says.

Kyle thought back to the desert. The person who had done that to Casey was someone that Kyle didn't even recognize. Someone that he hated. He had been hurt and he had lashed out.

"Look, high school was hell for me. But we all screw up. Look, I'm not saying I'm ever going to forget what happened. But I'm willing to forgive. It's obvious that you had your own issues and you lashed out. Even a nerd like me can relate to that." Kyle says and laughs lightly.

He sees Trent holding back a smile. He is obviously unsure if he is allowed to laugh or not.

"You can laugh," Kyle said, smirking, causing Trent to finally wear a grin.

"Well, now that that's sorted, you owe me a hug," Mac said as she stood up and held out her arms to Kyle. Kyle got to his feet and pulled Mac into a big hug before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, Mac Attack." He smiles down at her.

Mack hit him on the arm.

"Ow!" Kyle exclaimed with a slight smirk on his face to show he was joking.

So what are you two up to today?" Mac asked Kyle as she lightly shoved him.

"I was going to take Tam to the supermarket because she wanted strawberries and then not much else. Just some relaxation time." Kyle said shrugging.

"Strawberries? Only strawberries?" Mac asked confusedly.

Tamara says shrugging. "Plus, I'm eating a lot and I need a lot of food since I'm eating for two."

Mac looked her up and down. "You're pregnant?" she said, causing Tamara to nod.

Mac gave her a hug. "Congratulations!" he said.

Kyle furrows his brow. "When did you turn into a total girl?" he asks.

Mac turned to him and punched him hard on the arm.

"Ouch! That actually hurt!" Kyle exclaimed and rubbed his arm.

"Don't listen to him, Mac. When I told him I was pregnant, he pulled me into a huge hug, then freaked out that he might have hurt the baby. He's such a total sook!" Tamara said, causing Kyle to blush. "I'll buy you a dress, even though we don't know if the baby is going to be a girl... or boys."

"Aww, sweet baby Kylie! You always were such a sook!" Mac says as she reaches up and squeezes Kyle's cheeks.

"You're not that much older," Kyle huffed.

"Old enough," Mac says, grinning and giving him a little shove.

"Well, how would you two like to join us for lunch? We were thinking of leaving soon," Trent says. He feels a little awkward; he knows Kyle has only just forgiven him. Is it too early?

Kyle looks at Tamara who nods her head. "Yeah we'd love to. I'll just put Tamara's takeaways in the fridge and then we can go, I'll just ask Brax if I can borrow the Ute." Kyle says as he heads off to ask his brother.

Trent said, "We can take you."

"Cheers." Kyle smiled as his brothers barged in.

"You are not going," Brax said adamantly. He walked over to his brother and pulled him back from Trent.

"Did you spy on us?" Kyle asked and rolled his eyes.

"That's none of your business." Heath huffed as he grabbed Kyle by the arm.

"Yeah it is! It's about me!" Kyle argued.

Heath ignores his brother's smart-alecky reply, "You can't seriously be considering going out for lunch with that loser, are you?" He asks.

"Yeah, I am," he says, looking down at the floor. "Look, we all screw up in our lives. We all deserve a second chance." Kyle whispers, causing his brothers to shake their heads.

"Please." Kyle begged. "Come on, please."

Brax rolls his eyes. "Fine!" he huffs.

"You can't be serious?" Heath questioned.

"He'll be fine. Besides, Casey and Denny are going with them." Brax said shrugging as he got out his phone to text Casey.

Kyle blushed with embarrassment. "I don't need a babysitter," he mumbled. He looked at Mac and saw him wearing a smug smile.

"I'll decide what you need; you're just a kid," Brax exclaims.

"I'm twenty-two," Kyle moaned. "I'm not a kid!"

"Yeah, you're 22. That's a kid to us, Kyle," Heath says, smirking as he ruffles up Kyle's hair. Kyle shoves him away playfully.

Brax's phone beeps. "Casey says he can go. He'll be here soon; he's on his way home anyway." Brax says.

Kyle grimaced in frustration.

"Stop whining, Kyle," Brax says, causing Kyle to roll his eyes. "This is for your own good." Brax says, causing Kyle to roll his eyes. Brax then glares at Trent. "If you ever pick on my little brother, even if it's just something small, I will make sure you regret it!" Brax hisses.

The two oldest brothers walked away. Mac then nudged Kyle. "You always wanted to be a part of our family," she said, smirking and laughing as Kyle's annoyed face turned red.

I love that they care. They know how hurt I was. But they need to know I can make my own decisions. Besides, they were bullies in high school. I'm sure they'd like their victims to forgive them.

Tamara said as she kissed him on the cheek.

"They scare me," Trent admitted, causing Kyle to laugh. "I mean, if you had lived with them when we were kids, I can guarantee you wouldn't have been bullied."

"That's comforting," Kyle chuckled lightly.

Suddenly, Casey walked in. Kyle rolled his eyes.

"Did Brax tell you that you had to break the speed limit or something?" Kyle questioned.

"Na, I was just about home anyway. You must be the douchebag," Casey said. This caused Kyle to wear a small grin. At least Casey wasn't threatening to pummel Trent.

"Trent," Trent says. He has to admit, he likes this brother a lot more.

Casey looked at Kyle. "Are we cool with him?"

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Yes. Everyone deserves a second chance."

"Okay, cool." Casey shrugged and walked past Trent. If anyone understood that everyone deserved a second chance, it was him and Kyle.

"Thank God! Why can't Brax and Heath believe me?" he questioned.

Casey chuckles lightly. "Because they're our big brothers. They have their opinions and they think theirs are the only ones that matter." Casey says shrugging.

"So if you're on my side, how about you and Denny go somewhere else, and we can all pretend that you had lunch with us," Kyle said, smiling.

Casey can't help but laugh. "No way! I'm not risking them finding out that I disobeyed them. So who is paying?" Casey smirks, rubbing his hands together.

"We will." Mac said as she held Trent's hand.

"Cool! I'm starving," said Casey with a smirk.

"You're always starving, Casey," Kyle says. He and Casey walk outside to let their brothers know that they are leaving.