Kyle rolls out of his bed on Sunday morning and makes it immediately.
After that's done, he grabs a bunch of clean clothes from his drawer and starts to walk towards the bathroom.
He nearly trips on a pile of Casey's dirty laundry and moans.
"Casey, do me a favour, and keep your stinking clothes on your side of the room," Kyle moans as he kicks Casey's dirty laundry towards him.
"Fine," Casey huffs.
He knows what his brothers like, very pristine and hates stepping on and tripping over his stuff, though Kyle never usually complains about the mess on his side of the room and often just either moves it aside or clean it up.
As Kyle walks out the door he bumps into Heath.
"Hey squirt, I was thinking of going for a surf; do you want to come?" he asks, knowing what the answer will be.
"You're kidding right? You know I hate surfing. You're just trying to wind me up," Kyle mumbles and tries to walk past Heath only to be pulled back.
"Now there's no need to be like that little bro," Heath smirks as he pulls Kyle in close and ruffles his brother's hair.
"Heath you're messing up my hair!" Kyle moans and tries to whack his brother's hand away, but this only causes Heath to ruffle his hair harder.
Kyle tries to wriggle out of his older brother's grip, but it doesn't work so he turns to the last resort.
"Brax!" he yells as loud as he can, "Brax please!"
Brax comes around the corner and smirks.
"Alright Heath let him go," Brax says and Heath immediately lets him go.
"Wimp," he taunts his little brother.
Kyle doesn't bite and instead makes his way to the bathroom to have a shower.
"Heath, was that necessary?" Brax asks.
"He's my little brother and he's a geek; of course, it's necessary," Heath smirks, as he walks out the door, which Brax assumes is to grab his surfboard.
Brax looks towards the bathroom and sighs; he is going to talk to Kyle when he got out.
He wasn't expecting that to be for a while as his brother always took his time in the shower, he shampooed his hair twice and conditioned it once. Each time leaving the products in for a bit to make sure his hair is extra clean and runs a comb through so no knots are left.
He always makes sure he's presentable and always makes sure that his hair is clean and shiny.
After he gets out of the shower, he likes to spray his hair with spray. It's a lot more work than his other brothers ever put in.
After about twenty minutes, Brax hears a loud shriek come from the bathroom and he immediately runs into the bathroom to see his little brother in tears with bright pink hair while patches of his brown hair show through.
"Bloody hell! What did you do?" Brax yells as he approaches his brother.
The shriek has also got Casey's attention as he runs out of his and Kyle's room and runs towards the bathroom.
As soon as he sees Kyle, he stands there in shock.
"I just showered like I usually do and now it's pink! I used the shampoo I always use and the spray I always use!" Kyle yells as he continues to look at himself in the mirror.
Just then Heath comes in and takes a photo.
"Good look Bubs, have fun getting that out; it's hairspray!" Heath says howling with laughter.
"The girls at school are going to love this, it makes you even cuter. I mean you've already got a baby face, you're skinny and got those adorable puppy dog eyes and now you've got the pink hair to match," he smirks, he then takes another photo and then darts away before Brax can stop him.
"Brax! You've got to talk to him; make him stop! My hair is pink! Rose, roze, rosa," Kyle mumbles as he looks sadly into the mirror.
"English Kyle," Brax says as he runs his hand through his brother's hair, assessing the damage.
"You've got to talk to him Brax. I can't go back to school like this," Kyle mumbles; he can only imagine the bullying he'll get from kids at school.
He gets bullied badly enough already he doesn't want to give more kids a reason to tease and laugh at him.
"You'll be fine Kyle; it's only hairspray; it'll come out. Although it does make you look delicate," Brax smirks as he pinches Kyle's cheeks.
"Brax!" Kyle whines.
"You know if you don't react, Heath will stop," Brax says.
"Yeah right! He finds any excuse to mess with me," Kyle grumbles with tears in his eyes as he continues to look at his hair in the mirror.
"How did you not notice?" Casey asks, still shocked by his older brother's pink hair as it matched his slightly shorter and skinnier frame.
"I had my eyes shut so I wouldn't get spray in them," Kyle replies sadly.
Brax can see how deeply affected Kyle is and gets mad.
He storms out of the bathroom and into Heath's flat and grabs him by the scruff of the neck.
"What was that stuff, Heath?" he yells in his ear.
"I told you it is hairspray. Extra strong stuff; should come out after about a hundred washes," Heath shrugs.
"Hundred washes! Bloody hell Heath the kid's going to be the shower for ages getting it all out. How'd you even do it?" Brax demands.
"I know a guy who can disguise things as other things. He got the label of Kyle's hair spray and copied it then wrapped it around the strong hairspray and finished it off," Heath says simply; he thought that it was going to be a lot harder than it was.
"Well, I never want anything like this to happen again! Now go out and apologise, and when I say apologise I don't mean a half apology! I mean a real apology! He's really upset Heath! You know what he's like he has to be pristine!" Brax hisses.
"It was a joke, relax! But fine, I'll go apologise!" Heath huffs as he walks back into the house with Brax following close behind to make sure Heath remains sincere.
Heath knocks on his little brother's bedroom door and opens the door.
Kyle is sitting miserably on his bed, flicking his hand through his pink hair, while Casey is sitting on his bed, trying to comfort and sympathise with his distraught brother.
"Go on then," Brax coaxes, as he remains standing behind Heath with his arms crossed, staring with an unimpressed glare at his jokester brother as he repented for his prank.
"I'm sorry Kyle, I guess I didn't think this through. I didn't know it was going to upset you this much," Heath lies, he knew that his brother was going to be this upset, that's exactly why he did it.
Kyle looks up at his brother with puffy eyes, and Heath did feel a tinge of guilt then that he'd taken things too far.
"Forget about it, Heath. I know it was a prank, I just don't find it that amusing," Kyle mumbles, not feeling entirely forgiving.
"How can you be so okay with this, Ky? Heath should be the one who deserves the pink hair because he's such a jerk!" Casey states and turns to glare at Heath.
"Mind your own business, Casey!" Heath snaps.
"Why; you don't!" Casey snaps back, causing Heath to glare at the youngest.
Before Heath has any chance to retaliate, Brax interrupts.
"Get out of here!"
Heath huffs and storms out of the house, back into his own flat to grab his surfboard like his original plan.
Brax walks into the bedroom.
"You doing okay, Trooper?"
"Not really; not when I look like this," Kyle mumbles.
"I have some bad news about that…" Brax starts and Kyle glances up at him.
"What's worse?" Kyle questions.
"Heath told me that the hairspray he used has extra strength and will take a while to disappear," Brax says softly, watching Kyle's face fall.
"What does that mean? That I'll be stuck looking like this forever?" Kyle exclaims, horrified.
"No, it will wash out…just might be recommended at least a hundred washes," Brax explains.
Casey's eyes go wide at the news, and he glances at Kyle's hair.
"No! I can't have that! I have to get started then if I want to make it maybe disappear, as you said it might take a hundred washes; what if it takes like a thousand?" Kyle blurts in panic.
Brax sighs.
"You are not spending hours in the shower, Kyle. I don't care how much you might want to, but pushing this to disappear sooner isn't going to help and will end up ruining your hair if you wash it too much in a short amount of time," Brax says.
Kyle hangs his shoulders, defeated.
"Now Kyle, I'm sorry to say this but unfortunately, to make it disappear all at the same time and not look patchy like it is, the remaining parts of your hair must be sprayed too," Brax explains calmly.
"No, Brax! How can you even suggest that!" Kyle shouts, while Casey remains sitting on his bed watching his brothers and taking in their conversation.
"I know it doesn't sound ideal Kyle, and I wish there is something else I could suggest, but that is the best way to keep your hair consistent. I will help you," Brax comforts, noticing tears form in Kyle's eyes again.
"Let's go and get it over with, huh?"
"I'm not doing it, please!" Kyle protests in panic.
"I don't want to be here for this. Is it okay if I go to catch up with Romeo?" Casey says.
"Sure Case; come on Kyle, let's not prolong this," Brax says and holds out his hand for Kyle as Casey farewells his brothers and exits the room.
When Kyle refuses to get up, Brax gently pulls Kyle up from the bed and guides him towards the bathroom and after much hesitation, Brax shoves Kyle to sit down on the bathtub.
As Brax grabs the hairspray, Kyle watches him anxiously.
"Believe me when I say I'm not doing this to hurt you or make it worse for you," Brax says as he shakes the hairspray container and looks at his younger brother.
"I still don't see why you have to do this! I mean I know you told me the reason, but I wish I didn't have to add to this dreadful humiliation and what if it just makes it last even longer?" Kyle protests sadly, causing Brax to sigh.
"You trust me; don't you Kyle?" Brax asks, kneeling down to Kyle's level and resting one hand on Kyle's knee while the other hand clasps Kyle's chin so he could maintain his gaze.
"Of course, I do," Kyle mumbles and gazes down, avoiding Brax's look.
"I'll be over before you know it," Brax assures and stands back up, "Now close your eyes."
Kyle shuts his eyes and holds his hands over them as he tries not to cry as Brax begins spraying the patchy spots of his hair, leaving no spot of brown hair.
Brax knocks on the door of the boy's bedroom at seven-thirty on the Monday morning, before entering and seeing both teens still in bed.
"Up and at 'em; it's time to get up for your final week of term!" Brax announces. Kyle, being more of a morning person, is already awake with his head firmly under the sheets when he hears Brax approaching.
"Why do we have to go if it's the last week," Casey grumbles; barely audible as it muffles in his sheets.
"You know the answer to that Casey; now come on," Brax instructs and gives Casey's leg a shake then turns his attention onto Kyle who remained unmoving.
"You okay Kyle?" Brax asks with concern and rests a hand on Kyle's shoulder.
"I just don't feel like I could go to school when I still look like this," Kyle mumbles and points to his pink hair.
"Even after I washed it over and over yesterday; just please don't make me go. I'll be spending the day being picked on; I just know it," Kyle whines.
"You'll be fine kiddo, besides Bianca knows to look out for you after last time," Brax responds.
"You know if Kyle doesn't want to go to school and I don't it should be two against one and you should let us stay home where we can sleep all day," Casey grumbles out a cheeky reply.
Brax raises his brow at the youngest.
"Is that so? Well, I say one of me has more say than two young teens any day, so both of you start getting up and getting ready," Brax orders.
"Fine!" Casey grumbles.
Brax shakes his head and exits the room, heading into the kitchen to start on some breakfast.
Kyle throws back his bed covers and sulks around the room; grabbing his clothes for school as Casey starts getting dressed.
"Where are you going?" Casey asks as Kyle gathers all his clothes.
"If I have to go to school, I at least want to try washing out my hair again," Kyle responds sadly.
"You don't have time for a shower, you take ages," Casey answers.
"I'll be quick, even just one wash might help. Tell Brax to leave me some breakfast," Kyle says and exits the room.
Casey ties up his shoes and goes out into the kitchen where Brax was cooking fresh porridge.
Casey stands beside Brax and looks around him into the pot.
"Yum!" he exclaims.
"Where is Kyle? He hasn't remained moping in bed, has he?" Brax asks.
"No, he went to take a shower. He said to tell you to save some breakfast for him. Is it almost ready? I'm starving!" Casey replies, eagerly.
"You are always starving, Champ. Why don't you pour a glass of juice and grab a bowl and I'll grab you some porridge. I'll be back in a sec," Brax informs.
Casey does as asked, and takes the bowl from Brax and sits at the table.
Brax walks down the hall and peeks into the boy's room.
Upon seeing no Kyle, Brax becomes confused, then he hears noise coming from the bathroom and before Brax could knock and check on his brother, Kyle opens the door.
"Brax?" Kyle asks, surprised, "Didn't Casey tell you to leave breakfast for me and that I would have some later?"
Brax nods, "Yes he did. Kyle, I want to talk to you."
"What for; what did I do?" Kyle stammers.
"It's nothing you did. I just want to say I'm proud of you for making the effort to go to school today, despite your hair."
"I don't have a choice," Kyle grumbles.
"Hey: there is more to you than what's on the outside or the colour of your hair," Brax assures; taking hold of Kyle's chin.
Kyle gives a weak smile.
"I guess," he mumbles, "I better get organised so I can have breakfast."
"Good kid," Brax praises and gives a warm smile.
Kyle heads into the bedroom and finishes putting his shoes on.
Brax returns to the kitchen and sees Casey taking another helping of the porridge.
"Oi: go easy on the porridge, it's not just for you," Brax scolds.
"But I'm still hungry and there's plenty still in there for Kyle, besides he doesn't eat that much," Casey complains and shoves a spoonful of porridge in his mouth.
Brax huffs, "That is beside the point; you are not to eat more than you need to either, so no more after this bowl; understood? If you are still hungry you can have a piece of fruit."
Casey groans but finishes off his second bowl, just as Kyle emerges from the bedroom.
"Get in while you can with the porridge, Brax is having limits on what you can eat," Casey warns.
"No, I am not, and I do not need you being smart this early in the morning Casey," Brax warns.
Once both boys get organised for school, Brax drops them both off at the gate.
"Have a good day and remember Kyle: any trouble and tell Bianca or another teacher, okay?"
"Yes, okay; bye," Kyle replies and withdraws as he gets out of the Ute after Casey.
"Relax bro, I'll be there for you if people start banging on about your looks," Casey says with a smile and wraps his arm around Kyle's shoulders.
"Thanks, Case. I really need the support; I'm so nervous I feel like I could puke," Kyle says and gulps down the lump in his throat.
Casey pulls away.
"Gross: Dude! If you're going to do that, don't do it anywhere near me!" Casey exclaims with a laugh.
Kyle smiles and walks into the school grounds with his brother.
Ryder, Romeo, Liam and Dex, are all waiting in front of the school building chatting about their weekend when they turn their attention to the Braxton brothers.
"What the hell Ky?" Liam exclaims, trying to hide his snicker.
"What did you do to your hair?" Dex asks with concern.
Kyle frowns. "It wasn't what I did...Heath tampered with my hairspray and when I used it yesterday morning, I ended up looking like this and I can't get out," Kyle explains.
"Apparently it's a long-lasting hairspray dye and takes like a hundred washes before it fades," Casey informs.
"Stop reminding me," Kyle groans.
"I'm surprised with how many times you washed it yesterday it didn't make up to a hundred," Casey jokes.
"Geez, that really sucks. I'm so thankful Heath is not my brother," Ryder comments.
"What the hell is his problem anyway that he can't give you both a break?" Romeo adds.
"He's a jerk and he thinks, just because he's older than us he can treat us any way he wants," Casey grumbles; always having a problem with Heath's authority and even more so now.
"Well, it doesn't change who you are to us," Dex reassures.
"That's kind of what Brax said," Kyle replies.
The bell for the start of class rings and the friends disperse into their classes.