**Chapter 6: Shadows of the Past**

The tension in the room dissipated, and Andrew let out a slow breath, trying to calm his racing heart. Judd's sudden change in demeanor had left him feeling bewildered, but he was relieved that the intensity of the moment had passed. "Later sounds good," Andrew repeated, trying to sound casual despite the lingering unease. Judd nodded, his eyes still searching Andrew's face, as if seeking reassurance. "I'll...I'll talk to you later, then," he said, his voice low and rough. With that, Judd turned and walked out of the room, leaving Andrew feeling both relieved and unsettled. Andrew watched him go, his mind reeling with questions. What had just happened? What was Judd trying to talk to him about? And why did he seem so... intense? Andrew shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. He finished getting dressed, his mind still on Judd and the strange encounter they had just shared. As he walked out of the guest bedroom, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that there was more to Judd's story than he was letting on. Downstairs, Andrew found Judd sitting on the couch, staring out the window. He looked lost in thought, his eyes fixed on some point beyond the horizon. Andrew approached him cautiously, not wanting to startle him. "Hey," Andrew said, trying to sound casual. "I'm going to make some lunch. Do you want anything?" Judd turned, his eyes focusing on Andrew. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with unspoken tension. Then, Judd shook his head, his expression neutral. "No, thanks. I'm not really hungry." Andrew nodded, feeling a little awkward. "Okay, well, I'm going to go make something for myself, then." He turned to head into the kitchen, but Judd's voice stopped him. "Andrew?" Andrew turned back, his heart skipping a beat. "Yeah?" Judd's eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, Andrew felt like he was drowning in their depths. "I'm sorry again, for earlier. I just...I have a lot on my mind, that's all." Andrew nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy. "It's okay, I understand. We all have stuff going on, right?" Judd's expression was inscrutable, but Andrew could sense a flicker of emotion beneath the surface. "Yeah," Judd said, his voice low. "We all do." With that, Andrew turned and headed into the kitchen, leaving Judd to his thoughts. As he started making lunch, he couldn't shake the feeling that Judd was hiding something, that there was more to his story than he was letting on. And Andrew couldn't help but wonder what secrets Judd was keeping, and how they might change everything.