"A New Addition to the Family"

The dimly lit dining room was filled with the sound of clinking silverware and the occasional burst of laughter. The Birch family was gathered around the table, enjoying their dinner as they often did on Friday nights. Nick, as excited as ever, was dominating the conversation, talking about his best friend Andrew and all the fun they would have when Andrew finally came over for a sleepover. For years, Nick had been trying to convince his parents to let Andrew spend the night, but Andrew's parents had always said no. Mrs. Birch had tried calling Andrew's mother a few times, but she had always been polite yet firm in her refusal. However, this evening was different. Nick had been pestering his parents for weeks, and finally, Andrew's mom had relented, agreeing to let Andrew spend every weekend with the Birch family. The room fell silent as Mrs. Birch turned to Nick and said, "Okay, dear, Andrew can come over this weekend. Let's make sure to make him feel welcome." Mr. Birch smiled, his eyes twinkling with excitement, "That's terrific, son! We'll make sure to show him a great time." Leah rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Great, just what I needed, another person to deal with." Judd, who had been quietly observing the conversation, suddenly lost his appetite and pushed his chair back, "I'm done." As the evening drew to a close, Nick couldn't contain his excitement. He quickly grabbed his phone and texted Andrew to let him know that he could come over on Friday. Andrew, who had been waiting for this moment for what felt like an eternity, eagerly agreed. The next day, Friday, the Birch household was buzzing with activity. Mrs. Birch was busy in the kitchen, preparing a feast for Andrew's arrival, while Mr. Birch was setting up the backyard, making sure the pool was ready for a fun-filled weekend. Leah was lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone, and Judd... well, Judd was nowhere to be seen. As the doorbell rang, Nick rushed to answer it, flinging the door open to reveal a small, slightly nervous-looking boy with short, fluffy brown hair and large brown eyes. Andrew was dressed in a green sweater and blue jeans, and his black-framed glasses perched on the end of his nose. He looked a bit intimidated, but his smile lit up as he saw Nick. "Hey, Andrew!" Nick exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. Andrew returned the hug, a bit awkwardly, and stepped back to take in his surroundings. The Birches' house was huge, with high ceilings and large windows that let in a flood of natural light. As Andrew entered the house, he was immediately greeted by Mrs. Birch, who enveloped him in a warm hug. "Welcome, Andrew! We're so glad you're here." Mr. Birch smiled and shook Andrew's hand, "Yes, welcome to our home, young man. We don't often get to meet our children's friends, so it's great to finally meet you." Leah barely acknowledged Andrew's presence, merely nodding in his direction as she continued to scroll through her phone. Judd, however, was a different story altogether. He had been watching from the shadows, his eyes fixed intently on Andrew. And what he saw took his breath away. Andrew was adorable, with a sweetness and innocence that Judd had never seen before. Judd's eyes narrowed, his mind already racing with thoughts of how he could make Andrew his own. As the family made their way to the backyard for a snack, Andrew couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. He had never been around so many people before, especially not ones as wealthy and influential as the Birches. But as he looked around at their smiling faces, he felt a sense of belonging that he had never felt before. Little did he know, his life was about to change in ways he never could have imagined.