AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you so much to everyone still reading and supporting this story!
It is now into the second week of the school holidays and Casey rolls his eyes and groans as he wipes the dust from the living room cupboard for what felt like the hundredth time since the beginning of his and Kyle's grounding.
"This is so boring. I hate doing this; again!" Casey moans and stops momentarily.
Kyle glances over from folding the laundry.
"You hate doing any chore, Case, especially if it's for punishment," Kyle casually jokes.
"Yeah: so? All you're doing is folding clothes and you've already done the dishes. This is going to take ages," Casey moans.
"Hey, I had dust duty the other day and I had to do the bedrooms and the laundry room, and that was a big job; it gets filthy in there," Kyle replies as he folds up a towel.
"Why can't we do something outside, it's such a nice day out there for Winter; it's a waste," Casey complains.
Brax startles the teens when he approaches from his bedroom after having taken a shower in preparation for work.
"Do I hear complaining about punishments?" Brax questions.
"Not from me," Kyle mumbles and continues to busily fold the laundry.
"Casey?" Brax urges, with an eyebrow raise.
"It's just, I did dusting the other day, and this is so boring being stuck inside," Casey confesses quietly.
"Hmmm, I see. Well I might have a solution for that," Brax informs.
Kyle stops folding and Casey stands to attention.
"John was saying how he is in need of some help to clean up the beach. He should be at the surf club already so why don't you both get ready and you can come with me when I go to work and have a chat with John about helping out at the beach," Brax says with a smirk.
Casey doesn't need to be asked twice and darts off to the bedroom to get organised.
Kyle continues to finish off folding the laundry.
"Is it okay that I finish this first before we go? I don't want to leave it half done," Kyle says.
Brax nods with a smile.
"Please do; thank you Kyle."
Kyle finishes and takes the basket into the hall and places the towels in the linen press and any other clothes into Brax and his and Casey's room.
Casey returns from his bedroom wearing some board shorts, any time at the beach he had to be ready and surely they could distract John enough to have a bit of fun; after all Brax wouldn't be there to keep an eye on them.
Brax raises his brow at Casey's attire but doesn't say anything.
"Are you ready Kyle?" Brax asks, seeing Kyle still in his same loose tracksuit pants, long sleeve black top, and Nightwing tee-shirt.
"Yeah," Kyle replies.
"Let's go then," Brax instructs.
Brax pulls up in the car park of Angelo's and indicates for Kyle and Casey to follow him down to the beach.
John is already on the beach, standing next to his lifeguard buggy.
"John!" Brax calls out.
John turns his attention to the oldest Braxton heading his way.
"G'day Brax, how are you doing today? I hope you are both keeping out of mischief," John says, eying off Kyle and Casey who lagged behind Brax.
"I'm good, John. Actually I was wondering if you still need help with the beach, as Kyle and Casey here need to fulfill their grounding and were begging to do something outside, so I suggested you might be able to help," Brax replies.
Casey groans quietly and shifts his feet in the sand, while Kyle frowns; he wasn't begging to do chores outside.
John glances at the teens and snickers.
"Of course I could still use the help. I hope you two are ready for a big day. The beach is quite a mess with garbage and broken netting that needs fixing," John says firmly.
"Garbage: gross," Casey complains, to which Brax gives him a warning eyebrow raise.
Kyle wasn't fond of the idea either but keeps quiet and scrunches his nose.
"Well I think that sounds like a wonderful plan to keep Kyle and Casey busy. You can call me up once you feel the job is satisfactory or that the end of the day is near and I'll swing by and pick them up, but right now I'm ducking into work to sort out a few issues with the books," Brax informs and John gives a nod as he rests his hand firmly on his hip.
"You both behave for John and do as he tells you, without complaint; do you understand?" Brax tells his brothers sternly.
Kyle obediently nods and Casey shuffles his foot in the sand again in annoyance at being stuck with his old foggy neighbor, but knowing he has no chance to argue he silently agrees.
"Fine," he mumbles.
"Good. I shall see you both later then," Brax says and slaps both Kyle and Casey on the arm and gives a smile, before walking off to the restaurant.
"Well, let's say we get busy and put in some hard yakka then boys!" John announces.
Kyle and Casey both not wanting to participate in John's tasks, hesitate before Kyle silently trails behind his neighbor, with Casey reluctantly following behind.
John hands both boys a garbage picker and bin with a handle.
"You can both start on that side of the beach and when you have finished picking up every last skerrick of garbage you can help me fix up the netting and refurbish the flags," John explains.
Casey stands with his mouth a gape, looking at the size of the beach.
"That's not fair; you can't make us do all that!"
Kyle eyes his brother, willing him to shut up as John stands with his body puffed in a strong stance acting all authoritative.
"What are you afraid of: a little hard work and I mean proper work not that irresponsible effort you both displayed with your poor brother's car?" John scoffs sarcastically before continuing.
"That's none of your business, stop sticking your nose into our lives!" Casey snaps with an angry frown on his face.
"Casey, calm down," Kyle whispers; not wanting Casey to lose his temper and give John a reason to report back to Brax and risk his brother getting in trouble.
"Don't you raise your voice to me, young Casey. I have no problem informing your brother on your appalling behaviour, and let him deal with you," John warns.
Casey glares at John with a scowl.
"In fact I am glad both of you are still being punished; it is well deserved if you ask me, after what you both did," John adds.
"We didn't ask," Casey grumbles under his breath.
Kyle grabs Casey by the arm and gives him a tug.
"Casey, don't: it's not worth it," Kyle says softly, being a little annoyed by John.
"Now if you've quite finished debating this punishment; the beach isn't going to clean itself, so come on; hop to it! Don't dilly-dally!" John encourages with a sharp hand clap.
Casey and Kyle make a move towards the far right side of the beach where John had pointed.
"Remember: make sure you boys do it properly, because don't think I won't check every inch of this beach!"
"Yes John," Kyle replies solemnly.
Casey grunts and mumbles under his breath as they start to walk away.
"You probably check every piece of sand for marks anyway and would polish it if you could."
Kyle overhears his brother's snide comment and is glad that John had not heard and gives Casey an elbow bump in the ribs.
"Casey," Kyle lightly warns.
"What? You can't say that's not true," Casey whispers.
Kyle glances behind them and sees John polishing down the buggy window.
"Yeah: okay; maybe," Kyle whispers.
"Maybe: how about: always?" Casey snickers.
Kyle shakes his head and walks further towards their starting spot.
"Let's just get this done so he won't be on our backs, or will Brax," Kyle instructs.
Casey grunts and the two teens get to work picking up the garbage.
After about half an hour of continuous picking up of garbage, Casey begins to stall and daydream out into the ocean where he notices some surfers.
"That should be me, this is so boring," he complains.
Kyle ignores Casey and continues with his designated task; just wanting it to be done.
"How can you be so focused on this; do you like picking up garbage because you're like speeding through this?" Casey asks.
"No! I just don't want to procrastinate this annoying task. I hate having to pick up garbage, but you just had to complain to Brax about doing chores inside. It was a stupid idea, Casey," Kyle comments.
"Shut up, okay. I didn't think it would backfire as much as this. I mean doing work for John is such a drag," Casey moans.
"Don't remind me," Kyle mumbles.
"Hey, you think I could get away for a few minutes just for a quick swim?" Casey says, wondering; not taking his eyes off the ocean.
Kyle instantly shakes his head and faces his younger brother.
"Don't risk it, Casey. John is probably still watching and you wouldn't want to get in more trouble from him or from Brax and I wouldn't want to see you in trouble either," Kyle replies.
Casey sighs heavily.
"You're right, as always."
"I'm not always right," Kyle grumbles.
"More work, less chat boys! You know this is a deserving punishment. Now I don't want to have to report back to your brother," John warns as he approaches the teens with his hands firmly on his hips.
Kyle is about to pick up a piece of banana skin when John points out a piece of plastic cord near Kyle's foot.
"Oi: what is that? I thought I told you boys to clean up the beach properly?" John scolds.
The teens look down at the piece of plastic in the sand. Kyle's face reddens, knowing it was his responsibility to clean that part of the beach whilst Casey worked a few feet away.
"Sorry John," Kyle apologises; feeling guilty for not doing a good job.
John scoffs and shakes his head.
"Seriously Kyle, just because this is a punishment doesn't mean it's not to be taken seriously. That bit of plastic cord could have ended up entangling a little kid or being washed into the ocean. This could have been very dangerous," John lectures.
Casey rolls his eyes at John's exaggeration and watches as the old man lectures his regretful brother.
Casey decides to step in once he'd had enough of John's nagging.
"What's the big deal? It's one tiny piece of rubbish. I bet more bits of plastic or garbage has been washed into the ocean or been trod on by people so why have a go at Kyle because he missed one? It's hard cleaning up garbage with just the two of us; have you seen the size of this beach?" Casey sarcastically complains.
John stares with his mouth open in surprise from Casey's persistent arguing.
"I suggest you keep your comments to yourself young man, because you know I will not stand for remarks like that, especially when you are both here to do as you're told and respect me," John reprimands.
Just to diffuse the situation, Kyle apologises again.
"I'm sorry, John. Please don't make a big deal. I'll be more careful."
Given Kyle's sincerity, John sighs.
"Fine, have it your way. If you don't get it done today you both can continue tomorrow, for I'm sure your brother wouldn't mind. I am being reasonable here so don't make this an opportunity to slack off," John says firmly.
Kyle groans softly, hearing John's suggestion. He is already miserable about this whole picking up rubbish and to have to do it all again tomorrow would just make things worse.
"At this rate it will take a week," Casey grumbles, sarcastically.
"Suck it up and get back to work, boys," John instructs and walks back to attend to his lifeguard duties.
"He's such a grouch," Casey says with a frown.
"Thanks for sticking up for me, but it wasn't necessary, especially if it got you reprimanded too. I should have been doing a better job," Kyle says sadly.
"No, you shouldn't; you've been doing a great job, much better than me. Look at how much you've done compared to me? You don't have to be such an OCD perfectionist all the time," Casey comforts.
"Thanks, Case," Kyle smiles.
The two teens focus back on their garbage picking and before long another hour passes.
"I just love hanging out and doing nothing at the beach in the holidays," Haley comments as she walks along the beach with her best friend Becca, Damien, Zeke, and Zeke's two cousins: Trent and Ashton, who are visiting from Melbourne.
"Even though I have my own beaches in Batemans Bay, this place never gets old," sixteen year old Becca comments.
"We don't even live near a beach, so this is a treat," seventeen year old Trent adds.
"Hey, look it's those loser Braxtons!" Damien shouts and points towards Casey and Kyle picking up garbage.
Haley lets out a loud laugh.
"What in the world are they doing?"
"Let's go find out!" Zeke encourages and makes his way over to the brothers.
"So these are the two that one's like an idiot and the other thinks he's better than everyone because he gets high marks like some kind of cheating freak?" sixteen year old Ashton asks.
"Yep: that about sums it up! Let's have some fun with them and brighten up our day," Zeke snickers.
The group approaches Kyle and Casey from behind.
"What happened, Pinky? Didn't you like your hair bright pink?" Zeke calls out with an evil laugh.
Kyle and Casey spin around, only to be quickly circled by the group.
"Oh check out this one's superhero tee-shirt; so childish! What a dork!" Ashton comments, pointing at Kyle's shirt.
"Maybe he thinks he can be some kind of superhero in his wildest dreams!" Damien joins in with a laugh.
Kyle's face flushes; he loves his Nightwing shirt and didn't believe it was childish.
"Learnt any new words today little imbecile Braxton?" Haley teases as she approaches Casey.
Casey scowls but hangs his head; being teased about his intellectual ability always hits a nerve.
"Leave us alone!" Kyle nervously snaps.
"Or what: Pinky?" Zeke threatens and stabs Kyle hard in his chest with his finger.
"You going to threaten us with those fancy garbage picks?" Zeke taunts.
"What's up with that anyway? I get you are both weirdos but cleaning up garbage from the beach during school holidays takes a real weirdo, or losers like you two," Haley laughs then drops her empty trail mix packet on the sand.
"Oops, guess one of you is going to have to pick that up," she teases.
"I've got one better!" Damien yells and snatches Casey's garbage bucket from his hands and throws it down on the sand and runs after it to give it a hefty kick, causing all the garbage that Casey had collected for the last two long hours to scatter all along the beach again and fly off in the breeze.
"Hey: you jerk! I spent hours doing that!" Casey snaps and shoves Damien with all his might.
Kyle stares in shock and with sympathy, knowing what Casey went through to get all that done; his little brother worked hard despite his constant complaining.
Damien is quick to right himself.
"You just started it!" Damien warns and flexes his fists.
"Seems this rubbish is best picked up from the ground, don't you all agree?" Zeke comments and gives a head nod to his older cousin.
Trent grips Casey and shoves him around and pulls his arms tight around behind his back while Zeke makes a grab for Kyle who drops his garbage bucket.
Zeke manages to push Kyle down onto the sand.
Ashton gets on the other side of Kyle and weighs down his arm to stop Kyle getting up.
"Get off him and leave him alone, you bully! Get off me!" Casey shouts and fights in Trent's hold.
He wanted to swear at them so bad but bit his tongue after getting in trouble the other day for swearing.
Haley laughs and approaches Casey.
"Ooh, bully, such big words for the imbecile. I realise why you're cleaning up the garbage now, it's to start your career as a garbage collector, as that's all you'll ever amount to: being a worthless shit picker," Haley evilly teases and Casey struggles further in frustration and hurt.
Kyle turns his head.
"Don't listen to her, Casey!" Kyle yells, trying to protect his brother from hurting.
"Shut up, loser!" Zeke orders and grabs a heap full of sand and sprinkles it all over Kyle's face.
Kyle shakes his head and closes his eyes to avoid the sand.
Zeke laughs and stands up to quickly kick sand all over Kyle, who continues to struggle.
Zeke nods his head and points to Kyle's garbage bucket.
Ashton rushes over to grab the bucket, handing it to Zeke.
Kyle senses what they are about to do and attempts to shuffle himself away, however Zeke is quick to respond and places his heavy foot onto Kyle's chest, preventing any movement.
"Leave him alone!" Casey screams and struggles, stamping his feet around to try to step on Trent's feet to make him release his hold.
"I wouldn't do that, Squirt," Trent snickers and forces Casey face down in the sand.
Damien laughs and pushes hard on Casey's head; smothering Casey's face in the sand.
Casey coughs as he swallows a mouthful of sand and struggles to get up, but Trent remains having a firm grip on his arms.
Damien takes the opportunity to sit on Casey's legs to stop the youngest Braxton's struggles as he watches Zeke tormenting Kyle.
Zeke smirks down at Kyle and in slow motion tips the garbage bucket upside down directly over Kyle's head; leaving a few scraps to cover the rest of his body.
Kyle sputters and grimaces through the array of smelly garbage all over his face.
The bullies snicker and Becca, slurping her milkshake laughs.
She is standing back watching Kyle, unable to stop thinking how handsome he was, but not wanting to be called out on her feelings, she felt it easier to go along with her friend.
"Let me do my bit!" she calls and steps forward and dumps the remaining quarter of her milkshake over Kyle's head.
Kyle squeezes his eyes shut, as the liquid runs down his face.
Casey glances up, seeing Kyle's demise.
"Oh: good one, Becs!" Haley hoots.
Zeke, Ashton, and Becca start kicking sand all over Kyle.
Casey grunts and struggles against Damien and Trent's hold.
Haley snickers at Casey, "Oh: little pea brain you won't be left out."
Haley steps closer to Casey and kneels down.
Haley laughs and pulls back Casey's board shorts.
"Oh gross, he's forgotten to put on any underwear, must be because he has no brain cells!"
"Stay away from me!" Casey yells, feeling embarrassed and exposed.
Haley grabs a handful of sand and shoves it down Casey's shorts then continues to shove sand in until Casey's shorts are practically full.
Haley snaps the shorts back in place with a hearty laugh as Casey squirms and moans from the discomfort.
Damien joins in and shoves sand down Casey's shirt.
"I think this one needs a clean up now?" Ashton suggests with a chuckle and indicates towards Kyle and points towards the ocean.
"I like you're thinking cuz," Zeke replies and nods towards Damien and Haley to help them out whilst he had other plans for Trent and himself.
Haley and Becca grab hold of Kyle's ankles, whilst Damien and Ashton each grab one of Kyle's arms, squeezing tight.
"Geez, you weren't kidding Zeke, this dork's such a weak light-weight!" Ashton comments.
"Are you sure he's sixteen and not twelve?" Becca laughs.
"That's what makes him so easy to push around. Sometimes he just falls over without much effort; it doesn't even make it any fun," Haley adds.
"Let's do this then," Damien commands and the four teens start carrying Kyle down towards the water.
"Don't do anything to him, you jerks!" Casey yells out but is ignored.
Kyle struggles as best he could but with all his limbs restrained and being held in mid-air, it was proving difficult.
"Be quiet, stupid Braxton!" Zeke snaps and shoves Casey's head down hard in the sand before indicating for Trent to pull him up.
Once Casey is on his feet, again in Trent's hold, Zeke lands a hefty punch to his abdomen and continues until Casey is left grunting in pain and going weak at the knees.
"Leave some for me," Trent implies and lets go of Casey's arms, only to grab Casey in a rough headlock; forcing him to his knees in the sand.
"This is how it's done, Cuz," Trent snickers and pulls his opposite fist back and slams it into Casey's cheek.
Casey yells out in pain as tears well in his eyes and his face throbs.
"Please stop!" Kyle begs.
"But this is fun and you're so easy," Damien torments, as the four bullying teens swing Kyle by his limbs for a third time.
They had carried Kyle into the water until the water level was up to their knees.
"Maybe the pip squeak's right: we should stop, so what's say we do one more and let him go?" Haley suggests, snickering towards her friends.
Hearing Haley's words, Kyle decides her menacing tone wasn't convincing and seconds later Kyle finds out the truth in what she meant, when after a final hefty swing that makes Kyle feel dizzy, the teens throw Kyle into the water.
Kyle yelps as he flies through the air and splashes hard into the water, flailing.
Even though Kyle knew how to swim, the prospect of being thrown into the water changes everything and the young teen becomes terrified as he gasps for breath, trying to right himself in the water.