AUTHOR'S NOTE: As always, many thanks to Bonnie Sveen Fan and Braxton54 for reviewing and thank you everyone still following and reading. One bit of swearing in this chapter.
Back at the waterpark the Jenkins and Kyle have just got back to the cabana.
Scott and Toby are rubbing their ears after their wet willies.
Scott then smiles at the three younger kids.
"Let's have some lunch," he says.
He pulls out a container filled with chicken and coleslaw buns out of the esky.
"Yum! That looks so good," Kyle says smiling, as Scott hands him one.
"Thanks little dude. I'll let my Mum know," Scott replies, ruffling Kyle's hair before giving his little brother a bun, and then a wet willy.
"Argh Scott!" James moans.
"Call it payback, little bro!" Scott smirks.
"But I won fair and square!" James complains and Kyle shyly puts his head down; nervous that there's going to be an argument.
"Life's tough, suck it up," Toby teases, as he gives his brother a wet willy.
"God you suck!" James hisses and wipes his ears.
Kyle continues to look shyly at his lap while he eats his sandwich.
"Boo hoo, James. Suck it up," Ashley smirks and James turns to her angrily.
"Easy for you to say! You're not the one who gets all the wet willies and noogies!" James hisses.
"That's cause I'm their favourite and it's funny to hear you whine," Ashley says smirking and whacks her little brother around the head.
James is about to argue back when he is stopped by his older brother who is sick of hearing his little siblings fight, they had both agreed to be on their best behaviour today.
"All right you two that's enough. You are both equally annoying," Scott states and gives his little sister a wet willy.
"Ewwww, that's gross!" Ashley moans glaring at her older brother.
"Suck it up," James teases with a smirk, causing both his brothers to laugh and Kyle to continue to look shyly down.
Toby notices and nudges his twin brother.
"Hey Kyle, what's your favourite subject?" he asks and Kyle looks up.
"Umm, Music, Maths, Science, then History, French, and English," Kyle answers listing all his subjects except Physical Education.
The Jenkins kids look at him and can't help but smile.
"Okay what's your least favourite subject?" Scott asks.
"Physical Education," Kyle says quickly.
"What do you mean? Physical Education is great! You can swim, run, bike..." Scott starts.
"Gross!" Kyle and Toby both say.
They both think that Physical Education sucks and that there are much better classes.
"I mean I dropped that class as soon as I could, and man did it feel good!" Toby says and this causes Kyle to smile lightly; that's exactly what he plans to do.
"That's my plan, I'm telling you, the gym is like a haunted house to me. I hate it and it's a place that has been the scene of many humiliations for me," Kyle says as he thinks through the memories of all the embarrassment.
"Were they due to those jerks?" Scott asks and then takes a bite of his bun.
He and Toby share a stare, they still can't believe that those kids were giving a kind-hearted kid like Kyle such a hard time, however Toby could sympathise having his own fair share at a younger age.
"Yeah, them... and others," Kyle says, saying the last bit quietly.
Unfortunately for him the twins heard him.
"Others?" Scott asks, "There are other kids who give you a hard time, why didn't you tell us? We would have sorted them out."
Toby nods his head in agreement.
"With the others it's just mainly name calling, threats and the occasional shove," Kyle informs and he can see that the others are staring at him.
"Anyway, can we please move on. I really prefer to not talk about it," Kyle says as he sees them continue to look at him.
"Look it comes with being on the smaller side of a sixteen-year-old and being a nerd. It's no biggie; I get used to it," Kyle clarifies, "Now can we please move on from it."
"Sure, little dude!" Scott says.
Brax walks into his little brothers' room to see his little brother awake and reading one of Kyle's Nightwing comics.
"Hey mate, good nap?" Brax asks and sees Casey look up.
"Yep, but now I'm extremely bored! I just wish Kyle was here, that way we could play basketball," Casey complains and rolls his eyes.
"But he doesn't like basketball," Brax says, confused; knowing that Kyle isn't a fan of any sports.
"Yeah, but he usually plays it to pass time," Casey says knowing that Kyle nearly always said yes whenever he asked him to play basketball, mostly just to keep him happy.
"So why are you reading his comic?" Brax asks.
Casey is never really one to read comics, he always thought they were dorky.
"I don't know, I miss him. He's usually always here. But I can't read comics anymore! They're so geeky! Only nerds read them!" Casey moans and flops down on his bed.
Brax rolls his eyes at his brother. Yes he did call his brother a nerd but he also said that he missed him.
"How about you call Romeo and catch up with him, it might cheer you up?" Brax asks.
"Our friends know that we got grounded and I don't want to be questioned by him," Casey sulks.
Brax rests his hand on Casey's head.
"Come on Casey, he's your best friend he won't care. He'll just be happy to see you," Brax assures.
Casey turns to look at him.
"Okay," Casey smiles, he really does miss his best friend.
He pushes himself up and looks awkwardly at Brax.
"Um Brax, can I please use my phone to quickly give Romeo a call?" Casey asks nervously; not wanting his brother to get mad.
"Of course, and I want you to keep it on you so that I can keep in touch with you," Brax informs, as he walks towards his room to grab Casey's phone.
"Just remember: four hour curfew," Brax reminds, as Casey is about to leave.
Casey stares back with a pout.
"But Brax, why can't I hang out with Romeo until it's time for dinner. It's not fair: Kyle gets to go out all day and night," Casey whines.
"Casey, don't start. I want you home before the four hours is up, otherwise there will be trouble. Do you understand?"
Casey sighs, knowing it is useless reasoning with Brax.
"Yes, Brax…but it's not fair, why…"
"I am allowing Kyle a full day out because of all the troubles he has with bullying at school. Besides you have already had some time hanging out when we went for a surf and I'm deciding not to count that time on your curfew," Brax justifies.
"Yeah, but that's you," Casey pouts.
"And? Do you want to hang out with Romeo? Stop wasting time arguing," Brax says with a chuckle.
Casey hangs his shoulders and leaves to meet his friend.
The Jenkins, and Kyle are walking around in a merchandise store.
"Cool! Scott, can I get this?" James says as he holds up a cool towel.
"Yeah and can I please get this?" Ashley asks, "And did you notice how I say please!"
The twin boys roll their eyes at their younger siblings' behaviour.
"Sure. Look if you get a towel you can get a cup as a fifty percent off. So get one of those as well," Scott says and laughs as his younger siblings rush over to the cups.
He then looks at Kyle who is shyly looking at the tshirts.
"Hey little dude! Do you want to get a towel and cup as well?" Scott asks, causing Kyle to turn around and look at his feet.
"No thanks, I have no money," Kyle whispers.
"My treat little dude! Now come on, I would really like to buy you something," Scott offers.
Kyle thinks on it for a bit.
"Can I ask you a favour?" he asks.
"Name it," Scott replies.
"If I pay you back when school gets back and I have money can I please also get a cup for Casey? He really wanted to come today and I feel bad that he missed out," Kyle asks shyly.
He hates it when his brother misses out and he always tries to get him a gift.
Scott can't help but smile.
"Sure no worries! You're a really good kid, Kyle," Scott says, smiling, causing Kyle to smile back.
"Thanks Scott. I always think that I should treat people the way that I want to be treated," Kyle says and Scott can't help but laugh.
"Oh man the world would be a much better place if everyone thought that way," he says.
"Definitely!" Kyle agrees.
Scott reaches over and ruffles Kyle's hair.
"Go get your bits what you want," Scott says, and Kyle races off to get a towel and two cups.
After they buy all of their things they walk back to the cabana to put them away so that they can continue to go on rides.
Casey passes the basketball to Romeo who shoots the basketball and gets it in the hoop.
"So how come you are able to hang out now?" Romeo asks as he the boys weren't able to do anything earlier in their grounding.
"Zeke, Haley, Damien and some of their stupid friends pretty much assaulted us on the beach. Heath saved us, he saved Kyle from drowning and Brax decided that he was going to lighten our punishments. So we are still grounded but we get to hang out with friends," Casey explains; grateful that they get a little more freedom.
"Fucking psychopaths!" Romeo says and shakes his head.
He passes the ball to Casey who takes a shot and gets it in.
"Yep. But they're going to leave us alone now. Heath made sure of that," Casey says just as he sees Liam and Ryder walk over.
"So why did they do it?" Romeo asks as he passes the ball to Liam.
"Because they're arse-" Casey stops; thinking back to his soap in the mouth incident and quickly corrects himself, "jerks! They're jealous of Kyle cause he's smarter than them so they pick on him a bit and they pick on me cause they think I'm dumb and that they're better than me," Casey says.
After the bullying incident Kyle had told him that Zeke, Haley and Damien liked to shove him around; this is something Casey didn't know. He just thought that they would sometimes call him names.
"Is there anyone who doesn't pick on Kyle?" Ryder asks as Liam passes him the ball and he bounces it.
Casey shakes his head at this and laughs lightly. His friend has a good point.
"Yeah quite a few people but there are also a lot of people who do," Casey says.
"Yeah I can guarantee that now Aiden and his dumb lackeys are expelled Gavin will start to pick on him," Ryder says knowing from past experiences that Gavin also liked to tease Kyle.
"Well we'll protect him. Anyways, are you boys ready to trial for basketball?" Ryder asks.
Knowing that the four of them all want to play basketball whereas Dex and Kyle aren't keen at all.
"Hell yeah! I think we can all make the junior A team! That will be awesome!" Romeo says as Ryder chucks him the ball and he sinks it.
"Totally! It's a shame Dex and Kyle don't want to play," Liam says as it would be cool for them all to play together.
"I mean sure Dex might enjoy it and that's a might, but Kyle would hate every second of it! He would probably have to have a bed permanently reserved for him at the hospital!" Casey says.
"I think that they said that they want to join the robotics club," Romeo says, thinking he remembers hearing the two of them talking about signing up.
"Well they'll enjoy that," Liam says and snatches the ball off Casey.
"Come on two on two!" he says as he passes the ball to Romeo who is usually his partner when they play two on two.
"Sound good! You two shrimps are going down!" Romeo smiles and easily sinks another basket.
"Shrimps? You're hardly that much taller than us!" Casey argues with a sulk; he doesn't like to be called a shrimp.
"Well, prove it! Defend me!" Romeo challenges, laughing.
"Okay I will!" Casey smirks, as they start off in the middle.
"Wait! Before we start. What exactly did you and Ky do to get grounded for so long?" Ryder asks.
"Yeah, you never told me the day I came into the restaurant and you were working," Romeo adds.
"Ummmm," Casey begins, "Kyle and I tried to get revenge on Heath and it ended up with Brax's Ute being trashed."
Casey does not really want to say anymore.
"Brax's Ute! No wonder you got grounded for so long!" Romeo says shocked; he hadn't expected that.
"Yep, Brax wasn't happy," Casey sighs and he runs his hand through his hair.
At least all their friends know now.
"Well let's get playing then before we have to head home," Ryder says and all their friends nod in agreement
Romeo bounces the ball to Casey who bounces it right back, the game then starts with Romeo passing the ball to Liam and then the four of them start to run around.
After playing for some time Casey notices the sun start to go down, finally realising the time.
"What time is it?" he asks his friends.
"Just turned on four-thirty," Ryder answers, having glanced at his watch.
Casey panics.
"Oh crap, I have to get home otherwise Brax is going to go mental!" Casey exclaims.
"I thought you said you were allowed to hang?" Liam asks.
"Yeah, but we've been given a four hour limit per week and that means it's been three and a half already. I don't want to be in any more trouble," Casey replies, feeling slightly embarrassed, knowing none of his friends dealt with guardians so particular and strict.
"I get you, I don't want you getting into any more trouble, man. I'm glad you could hang for a while though," Romeo states.
"Yeah don't want to only see you through a window if you end up housebound forever," Liam jokes and playfully punches Casey on the arm.
"Yeah me too," Casey laughs.
The friends all farewell one another and Casey wanders off back home.
It's later in the day and the Jenkins family and Kyle are just about finished for the day and they are just going down one last slide.
James and Kyle are nervously looking at how high it is.
"I don't know Scott, it's pretty high," James says nervously.
This is the tallest ride they've been on today.
"You can turn around if you want, but I'll slide down with you," Scott says ruffling his little brother's hair and Toby ruffles Kyle's as he can see that Kyle is equally nervous.
"I'll go down with you little dude," Toby offers.
"Cheers, cause it is pretty high," Kyle accepts and ruffles his hair nervously.
He and James were a bit unsure about this ride but the others had convinced them that they would look after them.
Not long after they reach the top.
Ashley goes first by herself, next James and Scott get ready to go down and then they're off.
Kyle can hear James squeal and it makes him nervous.
Toby looks down at him and gently squeezes his shoulder.
"You're all good little dude! I've got you," he says as the two of them get ready and when they get the nod they are off.
"Ahhhh!" Kyle screams as they drop down.
It was so fast and before Kyle knew it they were out.
He breathes heavily, that's the scariest water slide that he has ever been on.
After they get out they all get their stuff ready to leave the waterpark for the day.
Kyle has had a great day! It was so much fun. He had gone down so many slides and spent a lot of time in the pool.
Kyle yawns and rubs his eye.
It has been a long day and they are still going to get dinner.
He can see that James is tired as well.
"Okay little ones. Let's go get some changed," Scott says.
Kyle nods his head and gets his stuff so that he can get changed.
James grabs his stuff as well and follows Kyle.
"We'll be there soon kiddos," Scott calls.
Casey walks into the house and yawns.
"Hey Brax!" he says, as he hands Brax his cell phone knowing that he would want it back.
"Hey Case, how was it with Romeo?" Brax asks.
"Good, I'm glad that I went," Casey replies.
He's looking forward to being able to spend more time hanging out with his friends, especially so that they can get ready for the basketball trials.
He looks at the time.
"What time is Kyle home?" he asks; really missing his brother.
"Late. After you go to sleep. But you can spend time with him tomorrow," Brax informs, causing Casey to smile.
"Cool," he says.
He's excited to spend time with his brother tomorrow.
He doesn't care what they do, all he cares about is spending time with his brother.
"Hey Brax, what's for dinner?" Casey asks, as he's suddenly hungry again and Brax can't help but smirk, though he shouldn't be surprised Casey is always hungry.
"I was thinking Steak and chips; sound good?" Brax asks.
"Yeah and can we please have an ice cream for dessert?" Casey asks as he really feels like ice cream.
"You just had a milkshake not long ago Casey," Brax says, not sure if he wants Casey to have another sweet treat.
"Please Brax!" Casey begs and Brax is actually surprised that his manners are so good.
Sure he uses his manners sometimes but usually he needs to be reminded.
Brax scrunches up his face and thinks about it.
"Okay," he agrees.
"Yes! Thank you Brax!" Casey says with a smile.
Brax shakes his head; he can't believe that Casey's mood has changed so much.
Before walking back to his room Casey turns back to his brother.
"Do you think we can play battleships again before bed?" Casey asks as he knows that he won't be allowed to watch TV.
"Sounds good Champ," Brax smiles and Casey rushes out of the room.
