AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to everyone continuing to support this story and those who are leaving reviews.
A short while later Kyle enters the lounge room wearing his pyjamas and favourite blue penguin oodie and makes his way into the kitchen.
"Hey, kiddo: all good after your wash?" Brax asks, stirring the sauce into the chicken.
"Yeah, it was so nice to have a warm, relaxing shower," Kyle responds.
"That's good. Now Casey that means the bathroom is free, so go and have yours please; it's already twenty past five and Bianca and Heath will be here soon," Brax instructs.
Casey rolls his eyes but figures there is no point in arguing with Brax about it any longer and trudges out of the kitchen and down towards the bathroom.
"Can I help with anything?" Kyle politely offers, standing beside Brax.
"No thanks, little man; you've done a lot today and I'm very proud of you," Brax praises.
Kyle responds with a smile.
"Why don't you go and have a sit down and wait until Heath and Bianca arrive," Brax suggests.
Kyle nods and walks out into the lounge room and takes a seat on the couch; grabbing his Harry Potter book that is left on the coffee table to read.
Meanwhile, being in ear-shot just before he enters the bathroom with pyjamas and towel in hand, Casey overhears Brax praising Kyle and saying how proud he is of him and the young teen lets out a huff of annoyance, because Brax had plenty of opportunity to say the same thing to him but hadn't.
Casey slams the bathroom door and roughly turns on the taps of the shower before jumping in under the warm steamy water and letting it heat up his body that is boiling inside already with emotion.
Over at the gym, Heath is packing up the equipment for the end of the day when Jimmy comes in.
"Hey man; brought your Ute back all spick and span," Jimmy announce and tosses the keys to Heath who catches them in one hand.
"Thanks again for doing this favour for Brax and me, there just would not have been any window of opportunity with us both working a lot at the moment," Heath replies.
"Don't mention it; what are buddies for?" Jimmy answers just as his girlfriend comes in and curls her arm around his waist and greets Heath.
"I guess I'll see you around and hopefully next time it won't be to take yours and big man B's Ute's for detailing. Have to keep those impish brothers in line," Jimmy says with a laugh.
"Don't think we haven't tried; and numerous times," Heath laughs.
Heath farewells Jimmy and his girlfriend and goes back to finish packing up then closes and locks the gym, making his way over to Bianca's house, to pick her up for dinner.
Heath pulls up outside Bianca's one bedroom, cottage-style rental house, situated near the caravan park and walks up to knock on her door.
He smiles widely as he sees his girlfriend open the door, however Bianca is not dressed for a lovely family dinner and did not look ready to go out.
Heath furrows his brow and Bianca looks at him apologetically and allows him into her house.
"Heath, I am really sorry but I'm not going to make it to dinner with you and your brothers," Bianca says as she rushes around to pack some items in her bag.
"Babe: how come? This doesn't have anything to do with my little brothers, does it, after last time? Because I already assured you..."
"Heath, it's got nothing to do with that. I just have to help a colleague out with some school board issues, down in the city," Bianca explains.
"School board; but it's holidays; you shouldn't have to work," Heath defends and wraps his arm around Bianca's waist.
"I'm sorry but I have to do this. It's not that I want to miss out on dinner. I had high hopes of even making a cake, but in the end, I just opted for buying a cake from the diner for dessert," Bianca explains.
Heath's eyes light up and he smiles at the mention of the cake and he gives Bianca a small peck on the cheek.
"Are you the best or what?"
Bianca smiles and pulls away, walking into the kitchen where she had placed the cake.
"Here: even if I can't be there to enjoy it with you, I'd like you and your brothers to enjoy this for dessert," Bianca informs and presents the cake to Heath.
Heath takes a look at the decadent lemon sponge cake with cream.
"You know you'll miss Brax's cooking and he's a much better cook than I am and there's no way I can eat that cake without you there," Heath says, wanting to try one more time to persuade Bianca to cancel her school business and come to dinner.
Bianca smiles and pushes the cake into Heath's hands.
"I know you Heath Braxton, you can't resist a good cake," Bianca laughs then continues.
"I honestly can't make it, I'm really sorry. I wish I could but maybe another time."
Heath sighs, "Guess it can't hurt a guy to try?"
Bianca approaches Heath and gives him a passionate kiss before slapping him on the chest.
"Now go and have a lovely night with your brothers; I have to get ready. I'll give you a call when I get back from the city," Bianca informs.
Heath hesitantly walks out of Bianca's house and places the cake in the passenger side of his Ute and drives home.
Kyle is still sitting on the couch relaxing and reading when Heath walks through the door with the wrapped cake in hand.
"Hey, Bubs; what's that wizard bloke up to in this one?" Heath asks, standing behind the couch and glancing down over Kyle's shoulder.
Kyle turns his head to gaze up at Heath; surprised he knew anything about the characters in his book, seeing as Heath sometimes teased him when he read anything.
"This is the first one: The Philosopher's Stone. I'm re-reading the series all over again," Kyle informs.
"Well, I'll leave you to it," Heath chuckles and ruffles Kyle's hair with his spare hand and then greets Brax in the kitchen.
"Oh hey, mate; where's Bianca? Or are you letting her be independent and un-gentleman like and making her come over on her own?" Brax jokes and focuses back on stirring the simmering chicken in sauce.
Heath places the cake down on the counter.
"She can't make it. She said she's sorry but she had an emergency she had to attend regarding some school Principal thing," Heath informs.
Kyle stops reading and glances towards the kitchen upon hearing Heath's words and half listens in on the details.
"It's school holidays," Brax questions.
"I know, I said the same thing, but apparently this was important. She said for us to go ahead and enjoy the cake she bought for dessert," Heath explains.
Brax glances over at the cake and smiles.
"Well, okay then. I guess that just means there is going to be plenty of leftovers," Brax replies with a shrug; concluding there would at least be plenty of dinner for tomorrow night.
Heath rubs his stomach.
"Don't fret big bro, I've brought my appetite," he announces with a chuckle.
"I never said I was, but now you are saying that maybe I should reconsider?" Brax says, chuckling.
"Honestly, would you really let your poor favourite brother go hungry?" Heath teases and Brax looks at him with a sceptical eyebrow raise.
"More like full of himself brother and where on earth would you get an idea like that, seeing as you come over here and raid all my food anyway," Brax replies.
Heath laughs and jokingly shrugs, while Kyle gives a small quiet smile as he focuses back on his book.
Casey exits the bathroom, reluctantly wearing his red and navy checkered pyjama pants and dark green long sleeve top and makes his way into the kitchen with his dirty clothes in hand and notices Heath.
"Is Bianca coming later?" he asks, noticing it is getting dangerously close to dinner time as he sees Brax place the spaghetti into the boiling water.
"She's not coming, baby bro," Heath answers.
"Why did she not want to deal with your ugly eating habits?" Casey teases.
"What did you say to me?" Heath demands, standing up tall and stepping away from the counter in which he is leaning on to tower over his baby brother.
"Casey: keep your remarks to yourself," Brax warns.
"I was only joking," Casey grumbles and takes sight of the cake.
"Where'd the cake come from; it looks yum!" Casey exclaims as his eyes go wide.
It wasn't often that they got treated to deserts like the luxurious cake on the counter.
"Bianca bought it and it's for dessert," Heath informs.
Casey ducks around to get a closer look and makes an attempt at peeling off the wrapping to have a sneaky taste when he sees Brax not looking.
He forgot about Heath behind him until he finds that his arms are suddenly yanked away and are loosely being held behind his back.
"No sampling, baby bro."
Casey protests and in doing so drops his dirty clothes on the floor at Heath's feet.
Heath lets go and shuffles his feet away from the few items of clothing.
"Don't you drop your dirty clothes and undies on me!" Heath exclaims, to which Casey frowns and Brax rolls his eyes.
"It's almost time to serve up; stop mucking around you lot. Pick your clothes up Casey and go and put them in the laundry basket and while you're at it, get and put some socks or slippers on; it's too cold to be wandering around in bare feet!"
"But I'm not cold!" Casey calls back from the laundry where he's just taken his dirty clothes he retrieves back from the floor.
"Casey: don't argue, just do it!" Brax yells out.
Casey huffs back down the hall and into the bedroom; mumbling to himself that he isn't arguing but that he is merely stating a fact.
"Kyle, time to put your book away and come sit down at the table," Brax calls and glances his head around the wall to peek at Kyle before pouring four glasses of milk to accompany the meal.
Kyle finishes the page he is reading, and in the meantime, Heath walks out to get his little brother but stands behind the couch and bends over and gives a quick lick of the tip of his index finger and gives Kyle a small few second wet willy in his left ear and Kyle flinches and moves away.
"Yuck! Why'd you have to do that?" Kyle grumbles.
"Oh, come on; barely had any saliva on that one," Heath snickers and clamps his hands on Kyle's shoulders; giving a soothing massage.
"Come on Bubs," he instructs.
Kyle places his bookmark into his book and places it back on the coffee table, before shuffling over towards the table in his comfy attire and navy UGG boots.
Kyle takes a seat on the side closest to the wall, just as Casey comes rushing out with his black UGG boots on and slides into the edge seat, facing the window.
Heath helps Brax dish out the dinner, holding the plates as Brax scooped the spaghetti then the Chicken and peppercorn sauce over the top.
Heath puts the respected plates in front of Kyle and Casey.
"A bit more, big fella; remember hungry brother here," Heath prompts as Brax dishes up Heath's plate and groans but adds a bit extra for Heath.
Heath chuckles and takes his place at the other end of the table, opposite Casey and next to Kyle.
Brax grabs his plate and sits opposite Kyle, facing the wall.
The boys scoff down their meal in silence at first then Heath clears his throat.
"So how is working for Brax going boys?" Heath snickers.
Casey huffs and twirls some spaghetti around on his fork.
Not wanting to make a fuss over his jobs, Kyle stays quiet too.
"Well don't everyone talk at once," Heath states sarcastically.
"They've been doing good. Kyle even served a few customers today," Brax replies; taking a fork full of food.
"Wow! That's a big step up, Ky; I'm proud of you. I bet you would have been nervous as you're so shy with people," Heath says with a wide smile and reaches over to pat Kyle on the back.
"Yeah," Kyle mumbles.
"How did he do, big fella? You think he might be the next in line for management with his smarts and now a top service person," Heath praises exuberantly.
Casey makes a low growl, hearing Kyle's praise and talk of management positions.
"I wouldn't go that far Heath, Kyle is still a kid, and his main focus is school, not working for me, besides this is only temporary because it's a punishment only," Brax replies firmly and continues to eat his dinner.
Heath shrugs.
"And what about you, Case? Are you serving too or are you just still cleaning?"
Casey ignores Heath.
"Well, that sounds like fun; glad you shared," Heath laughs, sarcastically at Casey's silent treatment.
Heath smiles proudly at Kyle, still unable to believe his timid little brother and starts up again.
"Don't you think Ky has potential; at least one day?" Heath encourages.
Brax shakes his head.
"Drop it would you Heath, and just eat. I'm not discussing this," Brax dismisses, not wanting any of his brothers to get any ideas in their heads.
Casey stabs his fork into his dinner angrily.
"Hey: my name's Kylie and I'm a stuck up goodie that has no life so if you want a boring server you called on the right person," Casey grumbles under his breath and pulls a mocking face.
He shoves food in his mouth causing his grumbles to become incoherent, amongst Heath and Brax's discussion on not having Kyle at the restaurant permanently.
Kyle however is the only one who picks up on Casey's behaviour and briefly glances over at his younger brother.
Brax turns back, slightly hearing the tail end of Casey's grumbles.
"Did you say something Casey? Is something wrong?" Brax casually asks, concerned.
Casey glares at Brax and stands up, scraping his chair.
"Casey?" Brax presses, now sensing something is really bothering Casey.
"Yeah, something's wrong! Let's all praise Kyle for serving people, like it's the hardest thing in the world. Any idiot could do it, but if it's Kyle, well yay for Kyle!"
"Casey: you need to stop and calm down," Brax warns, calmly, but Casey continues his rant.
"He did just as much damage with the prank as I did and I just keep getting punished, while Kyle gets smothered in praise! It's like he's not even being punished! It's not fair!" Casey yells.
Kyle hangs his head and shifts awkwardly in his seat; playing with his food as he is too uncomfortable from Casey's frustrations directed at him to eat.
It wasn't like he chose the jobs to do, Brax told him what to do.
"Casey, sit down you goose and stop having a tanty," Heath pipes up, in a firm tone and with a hard frown on his face.
Brax stands up now; ready to intervene and put a halt to Casey's rant but Casey takes a heavy breath.
"What makes Kyle so special? I'm sick of it," he asks angrily.
Brax observes Casey, thinking he is finished and calmed, until Casey has a final temper explosion and grabs his hand around his cup of milk and within seconds throws the entire cup of milk at Kyle's face.
He instantly grabs Kyle's milk cup and before Heath or Brax could stop Casey, the youngest throws the entire cup of milk over Kyle for a second time.
Kyle yells out as the cold milk runs down his face and all over his favourite oodie and down his pyjamas.
"Does this make you feel special? Where's all your praise now?" Casey yells, he doesn't get the chance to grab either Heath's or Brax's cups, before Brax intervenes.
"Casey: enough! Get and go to your room!" Brax bellows and grabs a cloth from the sink to wipe up the milk while Heath shifts his chair closer to Kyle and is comforting the upset teen.
"You're a right brat; you know that, Casey?" Heath snaps, placing his arm around Kyle's shoulders as Kyle sobs and whimpers about his favourite oodie being ruined.
Casey stands in his spot, heaving, angrily.
"And you're a big boastful jerk!" Casey snaps.
Brax glares at Casey and becomes angered that the youngest hasn't obeyed and gone to his room.
Brax storms over to Casey and grabs his upper arm.
"To your room: right now! I won't tell you again!" Brax bellows through gritted teeth and gives Casey a shove away from the table and points towards the bedroom.
Casey spins around and glares at Brax.
"You're always so bossy and mean! It's obvious you don't care about me and that you love Kyle more!"
Heath's eyes widened at Casey's statement towards the eldest; wondering how Casey even dared to say such an untruthful thing.
Brax is astounded by Casey's challenging disrespect and glares angrily at him.
"You have less than three seconds to get to your room and I mean it," Brax warns with utmost authority and storms towards the youngest.
"I'd get running if I were you, Casey!" Heath yells out.
Seeing Brax's anger at boiling point, Casey rushes off to the bedroom to avoid further wrath from the eldest.
They hear a rough slam of the bedroom door as Casey angrily enters his room, flopping down on his bed in a huff and allowing his tears of frustration and anger to well up in his eyes.
Brax lets out a heavy sigh in an attempt to calm his anger with his hands firmly on his hips.
Heath glances over at Brax before turning his attention back onto Kyle.
He is gently rubbing Kyle's back in between resting his arm comfortingly around Kyle's shoulder and helping clean him up with a towel with the other.
Brax returns back to the table and begins to clean up the mess on the table for a second time.
He takes Kyle's plate of food that was half eaten and ruined by splashes of milk and scrapes it into the bin.
"At least we have enough food to make you more," Brax grumbles.
Kyle glances over at Brax.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for the food to get wasted. I don't need any more," Kyle mumbles out as tears slip down.
"Nonsense, I won't have you go hungry," Brax grumbles as he now works at scrubbing the plate clean, ready for another helping of fresh food, once Kyle had the chance to clean himself up.
"It's not your fault, Bubs; Casey was just having one of his tantrums because he didn't get what he wanted; he's responsible for wasting the food," Heath assures.
"He ruined my favourite oodie," Kyle complains.
"It won't be ruined Kyle," Brax assures, standing against the sink and observing his brothers.
"Yes, it is! It's going to smell and feel all nasty; it won't be the same again. I might as well throw it out now!" Kyle exclaims.
Heath gives Kyle's shoulder a squeeze as he continues to comfort him.
"If it is ruined, I'll buy you a new one; I promise," Heath comforts.
"It won't be the same," Kyle argues.
Anger rising up inside again, Brax walks over to the table and leans down opposite Kyle.
"Kyle, listen to me: Your oodie is not ruined. I'll soak it and give it a good wash, and in the meantime, go and have a shower to calm yourself down and clean up then you can have a bit more food," Brax instructs and stands up.
"I'm going to have my chat with Casey now I've had a chance to calm down," Brax states in a firm tone.
"He deserves more punishment than being sent to his room and a chat. Give him a hard whack over the head!" Heath yells and waves his arm in the air in a flicking gesture.
"I will deal with it, Heath, just keep an eye on Kyle," Brax grumbles.
Casey overhears Heath's suggestion and hears Brax's footsteps approaching and instantly becomes scared that he is going to be in big trouble, and he bites his lip angrily.
Casey startles as Brax bursts open the door and then quickly closes it; storming up to the youngest who is laying on his side sulking.
"What is the matter with you? Why in the world would you do something so despicable to Kyle?" Brax yells.
Casey bites his lip further and shrugs; not answering.
"I want a verbal answer not a shrug!" Brax yells.
Casey shifts on his bed, avoiding all eye contact with Brax.
"I don't know why he's complaining, he likes to take showers and be freakishly clean," Casey grumbles, barely audible.
"I beg your pardon? That makes it excusable then; does it?" Brax yells and folds his arms firmly over his chest.
Casey moves his lips inaudibly.
"Sorry, what was that? I didn't hear you!" Brax snaps, sarcastically.
"No," Casey mumbles.
"No; I didn't think so! Are you still angry because of the jobs I've delegated to you at the restaurant, because I clearly went over all that with you?"
Casey wasn't sure how to answer for he didn't exactly know what he was mad about, just that he was angry in general.
"No; I don't know," he mumbles.
Brax huffs and places his hands behind his head in frustration.
"What's more: what is with the backtalk to Heath and me? You know I don't tolerate that and then to go on and say I don't care about you; how could you even say that, Casey?" Brax accuses.
A lone tear finally escapes from Casey's eye; he hadn't meant what he said he knew Brax cared; he'd go to the ends of the earth for him.
"I don't ever want to see you repeat that kind of behaviour at the dinner table again: am I clear?" Brax states and points his finger towards Casey.
"Yes," Casey mumbles and rubs his face against his pillow to wipe his stray tears.
"You will stay in your room for the rest of the night and will not be allowed any dessert and you will apologise to Kyle. Do you understand?" Brax says, his voice slightly calmer than before.
Before Casey has a chance to respond, the bedroom door swings open, revealing Heath with Kyle hesitantly standing beside him.
"I hope you're happy Casey," Heath scoffs, "Is it safe for Kyle to come in and get some fresh pyjamas without backlash?"
Casey avoids looking at Heath's hard gaze as he comes closer to the verge of full tears, after dealing with Brax's reprimanding; he didn't need Heath's comments on top.
"You can come in, Kyle. Get your stuff and go for a shower," Brax instructs.
Kyle moves from beside Heath to enter the room.
"I'm right here too if anything goes wrong," Heath assures and squeezes Kyle's shoulder.
Kyle avoids looking over at Casey as he makes his way over to the dresser drawers and pulls out fresh clothes then exits the room quickly.
"Have you given him a good clip around the head yet?" Heath says, sniggering as he leans up against the door with his arms folded firmly across his chest.
Casey shifts his legs to scrunch them further towards his body.
"Mind your business, Heath!" Brax snaps as he frowns.
"It probably is a good thing Bianca didn't end up coming tonight and seeing your pathetic childish behaviour," Heath comments.
Casey lets out a shameful whine and continues to ignore his brother.
"Heath: shut it! Go and make yourself useful and go heat up Casey's dinner and bring it back in here," Brax instructs.
Heath grumbles but leaves his position in the doorway to do as Brax requested.
"I'm not hungry," Casey mumbles.
Brax shakes his head.
"I don't care; you will eat what you are given," Brax replies sternly; calling Casey's bluff.
Heath comes back a couple of minutes later and Brax takes the plate of food from him, placing it down on the desk.
"Alright I suggest you eat this while it's hot."
Casey doesn't make a move from his bed.
"Suit yourself: you either come eat now, or you eat when it gets cold," Brax states.
Casey sighs and sits up and shuffles over to the desk and takes a seat.
"Remember to bring your plate out once you're done and after you apologise to Kyle you will come back to your room," Brax informs and rests his hand on Casey's back.
"Yes," Casey mumbles sadly.
Brax leaves and shuts the bedroom door and Casey slowly starts to eat the rest of his dinner, occasionally rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.