"A Courting Conundrum"

The days that followed were a whirlwind of nervous energy for Judd as he embarked on his journey to get to know Andrew better. He had made up his mind to take a chance and see where his feelings might lead, and he was determined to make a good impression. Judd started small, casually 'bumping' into Andrew in the hallways at school, exchanging pleasantries and trying to appear nonchalant. He would often find excuses to sit near Andrew in class, hoping to strike up a conversation. At first, Andrew seemed oblivious to Judd's attempts, going about his daily routine as usual. But as the days went by, Andrew began to notice a change in Judd's behavior. Judd would often look at him in a way that made him feel uneasy, like he was trying to see right through him. Andrew couldn't understand why Judd was acting this way, and it made him a little scared. One day, as Judd was walking down the hallway, he spotted Andrew standing by his locker, rummaging through his bag. Judd quickened his pace, trying to appear casual, and cleared his throat to announce his presence. Andrew looked up, startled, and their eyes met for a brief moment. "Hey, Andrew," Judd said, trying to sound relaxed. "What's up?" Andrew shrugged, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. "Not much, just getting my stuff for class." Judd nodded, lingering by the locker. "Yeah, me too. I love that new book we're reading in English class. Have you read it before?" Andrew hesitated, sensing that Judd was trying to prolong the conversation. "Uh, no, I haven't. But I've heard good things about it." Judd smiled, taking a step closer. "Yeah, me too. I think it's going to be a really interesting discussion." As they talked, Andrew couldn't shake off the feeling that Judd was trying to get something from him. He seemed... different. More attentive, more interested. Andrew found himself growing increasingly uncomfortable, unsure of how to react. As the conversation drew to a close, Andrew made a hasty excuse about needing to get to class, and Judd let him go. But as Andrew walked away, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. He didn't know what was going on with Judd, but he was determined to avoid him for a while. Little did Andrew know, Judd's attempts at courting him were only just beginning, and he was about to find himself in a situation that would challenge everything he thought he knew about himself and his relationships.