AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to Bonnie Sveen Fan and Braxton54 for reviewing and everyone else continuing to read.
It is the final weekend of the school holidays and Kyle is feeling better from his poor immune respiratory issue.
It's a pleasantly warm Saturday morning for Winter and Kyle wakes up at seven-thirty, feeling great; he had an awesome sleep.
He jumps out of bed and heads towards the shower.
In the shower Kyle does his usual routine.
After he gets out he blow-dries his hair, sprays it and brushes it.
After he sees that it's perfect, he smiles as he looks in the mirror and sees that he's looking nice and tidy.
He then heads back to his room to get changed, considering it's an unusually warm Winter's day, Kyle gets changed into his grey Batman shirt and black Nike shorts.
Afterwards he walks out into the kitchen and puts a bagel in the toaster.
"Hey little man," Brax says as he comes behind Kyle and ruffles up his hair.
Kyle quickly fixes his hair and turns to his brother.
"Morning Brax, did you have a good sleep?" he asks.
"Yeah, I did; how about you?" Brax answers his little brother who gives him a sweet smile back.
"Yep! I feel very relaxed and re-energised," Kyle replies.
"Glad you're feeling much better," Brax says happily.
Brax puts the jug on and smiles at his little brother.
It had been a tough few days for Kyle but other than a few sneezes here and there he was feeling much better.
"Would you like me to put a bagel on for you?" Kyle asks his brother just as his pops up.
"No thanks little man, I'm about to make myself some bacon, do you want any?" Brax asks and Kyle scrunches up his nose in reply; he doesn't usually like meat this early.
"No thanks Brax, I'm happy with my bagel," Kyle replies and he puts some cream cheese on the bagel.
"All good then," Brax says.
After Brax cooks his bacon the two boys sit down and quietly eat.
Brax is reading through a news article on his phone while Kyle is just sitting silently and eating his bagel.
After finishing his bagel, Kyle stands up and washes his plate before making his way to his bedroom.
After packing his school bag and organising his school clothes ready for going back to school on Monday, he grabs his Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire book and he starts to read.
He has loved re-reading the Harry Potter books and being sick the last couple of days he has managed to read quite a bit. He loves the Goblet of Fire, it's a great book and one of the main characters is Cedric Diggory who is a Hufflepuff, who he thought is a great character.
Suddenly there is a knock at the door getting both the boys' attention.
Brax stands up and walks to the door ruffling his brother's hair on the way.
He opens the door to see a young man standing on the other side.
"Scott?" Kyle says shocked, not expecting to see him standing on the other side of the door.
"Hey little dude," Scott greets Kyle before turning to Brax.
"Hey, I'm Scott, I'm at Kyle and Casey's school; I'm a friend of Kyle's," he greets, causing Kyle to smile shyly and look down at his lap.
"Hey Scott, good to meet you," Brax says, holding out his hand for Scott to shake.
"Good to meet you too," Scott replies.
He sees Kyle walk up behind Brax and smiles as Kyle shuffles shyly.
"Anyway, my parents won five tickets to raging waters and they are due to expire in a couple of weeks and since todays supposed to be quite warm and the final weekend of school holidays, my parents thought that it would be a nice idea for us kids to go, so me and my twin brother are taking our younger sister and brother and we were wondering if Kyle would like to come?" Scott asks, causing Kyle's jaw to drop.
"We are also more than happy to pay for any food or drinks that he wants."
"Really?" Brax asks.
He can't help but feel elated, Kyle really doesn't fit in with kids outside of his friend group, so it makes Brax really happy that these kids want to hang out with Kyle, but he still had questions to ask the kid.
"How do you know my baby brothers?" Brax asks, causing Kyle to blush; why does Brax have to call him that in front of Scott?
"Well I was there the day that those kids were picking on Kyle," Scott answers and Kyle sees his brother's face change; he looks mad now.
Kyle grabs his brother's arm and squeezes it.
"He means that he saved me, remember me saying how a year twelve saved me? Well that was Scott; Scott Jenkins," Kyle says panicking that Brax was about to have a go at Scott.
Brax looks at the boy standing on the other side of the door then back at his brother, realising this was the famous Scott Jenkins, Kyle and Casey were talking about, but he had no clue that he was the kid that saved Kyle.
"Oh. Well thanks. I really appreciate you looking out for Kyle like that, I know that it really meant a lot to Kyle," Brax says ruffling up Kyle's hair.
"Yeah, well no one deserves to be treated like that," Scott implies.
"So what do you think? Would Kyle like to come to Raging Waters?" Scott asks.
Brax turns around and looks at Kyle.
"Can we have maybe five minutes to think about it?" Brax asks.
"Sure, we are all in the car at the moment, how about we go to the shop and get everything we need and Kyle can send me a text if he's keen to come, if he is then we will drive back and pick him up if not then we will just continue on to Sydney," Scott suggests.
Brax nods his head and smiles.
"Yeah, that will be great thanks," Brax says.
Scott walks out and drives off.
"I probably can't go, right; cause I'm grounded?" Kyle mumbles shuffling his feet.
Brax sighs and grabs his brother's chin and lifts up his head.
"Like I said before, Ky: you can hang out with your friends, I'm just not going to give you any money. So if you are feeling up to it, yes you can go. By the sounds of it you are being treated," Brax says as he ruffles up Kyle's hair.
"What about the four hour rule? Going to Raging Waters takes most of that time; how is that practical? I don't want Scott to waste his time taking me only for him to bring me back practically as soon as we get there," Kyle debates.
Brax sighs, "A fair point, but I also said only for certain circumstances I would alter that time and given everything you've been through and this opportunity to hang with some new friends, I am willing to let the four hour rule slide."
Kyle's eyes light up and he instantly hugs his brother.
"I'll get your phone so that you can send Scott a text," Brax chuckles.
Kyle pulls out of the hug.
"Go get all your stuff," Brax instructs and lightly shoves his brother towards his bedroom.
"Thanks Brax!" Kyle exclaims smiling and races off to get everything that he needs.
Kyle grabs his Batman board shorts and plain blue rash top. He then gets his black goggles that are in his drawer.
Suddenly Casey moves in his bed.
"What are you doing? It's too early!" Casey moans.
"Sorry Casey, I'm getting all my stuff to go to Raging Waters," Kyle says and immediately regrets it; he knows Casey will be jealous and he doesn't want him to feel left out, but there's nothing he can do there's only five tickets.
"We're going to Raging Waters!" he cheers with a wide smile and sits up.
"No, just me," Kyle says quietly.
"What! Why?" Casey yells just as Brax stands in the doorway.
"You all good, Ky?" he asks and then turns to Casey, "Morning, Case."
"Brax! Why is Kyle going to Raging Waters and I'm not?" Casey asks angrily.
Kyle jolts at Casey's harsh tone and lowers his head.
Brax seeing his brother's reaction answers his brother's question before he has a go at Kyle.
"Because he got invited. Here's your phone, Trooper," he says simply and chucks Kyle his phone, who drops it but then picks it up and immediately sends a text to Scott confirming that he's going.
"By who?" Casey asks, "All of his friends are mine as well!"
"It's none of your business, Casey, now do you have everything Kyle?" Brax asks.
"I just need a bag and a towel," Kyle says as he quickly grabs a spare pair of briefs.
"Okay go get those and get ready for Scott," Brax says.
"Scott Jenkins! You're kidding me? You're going to Raging Waters with Scott Jenkins!" Casey yells and sulks, jealous that he's not going as well.
Kyle quickly runs out of the room to get a towel and also so he can avoid Casey's tantrum.
"Yes he is Casey, you and I can find something to do, how about we go for a surf?" Brax suggests as he knows how much Casey loves surfing.
"But Kyle gets to go to Raging Waters; we can go surfing anyday!" Casey yells annoyed and folds his arms in front of him.
"So?" Brax asks.
"So I would have thought that he would have invited me!" Casey huffs and glares at Brax.
Brax looks into the hallway to see that Kyle's in the bathroom getting ready.
"You listen here Casey, you are always getting invited to things that Kyle's isn't. I can't even count the number of birthday parties you've been invited to that he hasn't and you know what he doesn't sulk like this," Brax says.
"How is it my fault that I'm more popular than him?" Casey asks; he knows that his brother isn't invited to many parties and he does feel bad but what's he meant to do?
"It's not, just like how it isn't his fault that he's invited to this and you aren't," Brax says, "Please Casey, just be happy for him. He's not going to have a good day if he thinks you are upset."
"So?" Casey huffs slightly annoyed.
"So, I'm not having you ruin this for him. Besides if it was you going to the waterpark and Kyle was staying home Kyle would put on a smile for you. Like he does for all the birthday parties and all the sleepovers and all the times you get invited anywhere!" Brax informs angrily.
Casey's shoulders slump. Brax has a good point; he does want his brother to enjoy himself; he's just upset that he doesn't get to go.
"So please just be happy for him," Brax requests and looks back into the hallway to see that his brother is still in the bathroom.
He's very thankful that his brother isn't too quick when it comes to getting ready for the day.
"I guess I can do that, Brax," Casey relents.
"Good kid, and I promise you, Casey, we will have a good time today," Brax says just as Kyle walks back in.
"I'm ready, I'm just going to let Scott know," Kyle says as he looks nervously at Casey.
"I hope you have a good day today Ky and now remember to put sunblock on. We all know you burn easily," Casey says, ending in a joke.
"Thanks Case."
Brax reaches over and ruffles Kyle's hair.
"Let's go Kyle, it's far too early for Casey. Let's leave him to have another wee nap," Brax says and squeezes Kyle's shoulders as they walk out of the room.
"Bye Case!" Kyle calls over his shoulder.
"Bye Ky!" Casey calls, he then lies back down and sighs; he really wants to go to Raging Waters too.
Kyle sits out in the lounge and suddenly there's a knock at the door, he jumps up and opens it; it's Toby this time.
"Hey I'm Toby, I'm Scott's brother," he greets and holds out his hand for Brax to shake.
"Nice to meet you, Toby," Brax says and he shakes his hand.
Suddenly he sees Kyle standing beside him.
"You have a good day little man! I'll see you tonight. Text me if you need anything," Brax says as he pulls him into a side hug.
He had decided to let Kyle have his phone today for emergencies.
"Sounds good," Kyle says with a smile.
"We are planning on getting dinner in the city before we come home so we might be back about nine is this okay?" Toby asks.
"I guess, but just a warning he will probably fall asleep in the car, also make sure he eats enough," Brax says, causing Kyle's face to blush so he runs his hands over his face.
"Yeah no worries, we're thinking our little brother and sister will probably fall asleep as well," Toby chuckles as he squeezes Kyle's shoulder.
"Sounds good. Anyways you behave yourself little man!" Brax says as he lifts Kyle's chin.
"Always," Kyle replies, causing Brax to laugh.
"Let's go," Toby says and walks out the door with Kyle and swings his arm around Kyle's shoulder, as they go out to the car.
"Hey little dude, this is our little sis Ashley and our baby brother James," Scott says.
"Hey!" Ashley says and smiles at Kyle as he gets in on the other side of her younger brother who is sitting in the middle.
"Hi," Kyle replies as he looks at Ashley and blushes slightly.
He then looks at the boy, he kind of remembers him but his memory is a little foggy.
"Hey, and just to let you know, I'm not a baby, I'm thirteen!" James informs.
"Don't worry man, I'm sixteen and my brothers still call me Bubs and kiddo and I don't think they are stopping anytime soon," Kyle says then blushes slightly; he can't believe he just said that.
"How old is your brother by the way?" Scott asks, noticing how much older Brax seems than his younger brothers.
"Brax is thirty three and our other older brother Heath is thirty," Kyle says and looks out the window.
"Wow! Quite a gap," Scott exclaims.
"Yeah, my dad had an affair with my mum when Heath was fourteen and Brax was seventeen and Casey was born about six months after I was born," Kyle informs.
"So you're a half brother?" Toby asks.
"Yeah, my mum died when I was two, so I was taken to live with my brothers," Kyle explains and immediately drops his head; he doesn't know why he's opening up so much, but he's guessing that he trusts them.
He then turns to James.
"You were there the day that your brothers saved me, weren't you?" Kyle asks.
The car goes quiet.
"Ah yeah, I was. Me and my friend Dustin," James replies.
"Thank you, for getting your brothers to save me, I don't want to think about how many times my head would have been shoved down that toilet if you didn't, not to mention the fact that I probably would've been given a wedgie afterwards," Kyle says.
"No worries. Those guys seemed like complete dicks!" James says, causing the whole car to laugh.
Kyle puts on a small smile but looks nervously at Scott and Toby and is shocked that Toby is grinning at his little brother, before turning back to face the front.
Kyle turns shocked to James and Ashley.
"Your brothers don't care if you swear?" Kyle asks, shocked.
"No, they just tell us not to in front of our parents," James laughs.
"What about you Kyle? I can imagine that it must be fun to be raised by brothers. A bunch of parties?" Scott asks.
Kyle laughs.
"I wouldn't go that far. We get punished a bit, although we do deserve it. The one time I accidentally swore in front of my brothers I ended up with a teaspoon of mustard in my mouth and one time Casey said the f word to me in an argument and he got his mouth washed with soap," Kyle says, as he recalls what his little brother had told him in regards to what had happened that night in the bathroom.
"Damn! Sounds intense!" Ashley says.
"Yeah, but I love my brothers; they're the best," Kyle says, "I couldn't ask for a better family."
"That's so sweet," Ashley says blushing and Kyle blushes right back at her.
"You been to Raging Waters before?" Toby asks as he looks at Kyle.
"Yeah, Brax and Heath have taken us a few times. There was one time when we were seven that Casey ran away so Brax had to go looking for him while Heath took me on the scariest rides that my height allowed me to go on," Kyle says laughing.
"But he did take me on some of the fun kid rides and he won me two stuffed toys. Let's just say when Brax finally found Casey going down a waterslide we had to go straight home, it was another three years before they took us again," Kyle explains.
He loves Raging Waters even though he finds some rides scary and was annoyed when they had to stop going.
"Well we have all day to have fun today!" Scott says grinning at Kyle through the rear view mirror.
"Awesome! But there will definitely be some rides that I will be too scared to go on," Kyle admits, feeling a little embarrassed that he had just said that.
"No worries man! James gets a bit scared on some rides so you can chill out with him," Scott explains.
"Cool," Kyle replies, smiling at James.