**Chapter 2: A New Dynamic**

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, the Birch family gathered around the dinner table, with Andrew as the guest of honor. The conversation flowed easily, with Nick and Andrew sharing stories about their school and friends. Mrs. Birch and Mr. Birch were delighted to see their son so happy, and they asked Andrew questions about his interests and hobbies. Leah, however, remained distant, her eyes fixed on her phone as she texted her friends. Judd, on the other hand, couldn't help but steal glances at Andrew, who was laughing and chatting with Nick. Judd's gaze lingered on Andrew's face, taking in the contours of his features and the sparkle in his eyes. As dinner came to a close, Mrs. Birch suggested they move to the living room for dessert. As they sat down, Judd finally made his move, sauntering over to Andrew and plopping down beside him on the couch. "So, Andrew, what do you like to do for fun?" he asked, his eyes locked on Andrew's. Andrew, taken aback by Judd's sudden interest, stuttered for a moment before responding. "Uh, I like playing video games, watching movies, and playing basketball with Nick." Judd smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No way, I'm a huge basketball fan. Maybe we can play a game sometime." Nick, sensing Judd's interest in Andrew, frowned slightly. He had always been the center of attention in his family, and he wasn't sure he liked Judd's sudden attention towards Andrew. As they chatted, Leah finally put down her phone and joined the conversation, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, great, Judd's found a new project to obsess over." Judd shot her a warning glance, but Andrew just laughed. "I'm not a project, I promise." The evening wore on, with the Birchs and Andrew chatting and laughing together. As the night drew to a close, Mrs. Birch walked Andrew to the front door, thanking him for coming over. As Andrew said his goodbyes, Judd lingered behind, his eyes locked on Andrew's. "I'll walk you out," he said, his voice low and smooth. As they walked to the front gate, Judd turned to Andrew and asked, "So, what do you think of the house?" Andrew smiled. "It's amazing. I've never seen a house like it." Judd chuckled. "Yeah, it's definitely a unique place. But I think you'll find that there's more to it than meets the eye." Andrew raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?" Judd's eyes glinted in the moonlight. "Let's just say that the Birch family has its secrets. And I think you're going to find yourself right in the middle of them." As Andrew walked away, Judd watched him go, a calculating look in his eyes. He had a feeling that this was just the beginning of a very interesting summer.