"Shadows in the Night"

As the days passed, Judd's fascination with Andrew only intensified, his eyes constantly seeking out the boy's presence. He would often find excuses to be near him, lingering in the background as Andrew and Nick spent their days lounging by the pool or exploring the Birch's extensive grounds. Andrew, sensing that he was being watched, couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. At first, he tried to brush it off as mere paranoia, but as the hours ticked by, he began to notice Judd's presence more and more. He would catch glimpses of him in the windows, or see him standing just out of sight, his eyes fixed intently on Andrew. The sensation sent shivers down Andrew's spine, and he found himself growing increasingly anxious. Nick, however, remained blissfully unaware of the tension. He was too caught up in his own excitement, thrilled to have his best friend spending the weekend with him. As they spent their evenings huddled around the TV, watching movies or playing video games, Andrew couldn't help but steal glances at Judd, who would often sit in the shadows, his eyes boring into Andrew's skin. One evening, as they were settling in for a night of movie-watching, Andrew turned to Nick with a concerned expression. "Hey, can I ask you something?" he said, his voice low. Nick looked up from his phone, his eyes curious. "What's up?" Andrew hesitated, unsure of how to phrase his question. "Do you think someone's... watching us?" he asked, his eyes darting towards the shadows. Nick's expression changed from curiosity to confusion. "What do you mean?" Andrew shrugged, trying to downplay his concerns. "I don't know, it's just that I keep feeling like someone's eyes are on me. And I saw someone lurking around earlier." Nick's eyes scanned the room, but he didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. "I don't see anyone," he said, chuckling. "Maybe you're just being paranoid." But Andrew wasn't so sure. He glanced around the room again, this time more deliberately, and that's when he saw him - Judd, standing just beyond the edge of the light, his eyes fixed intently on Andrew. Andrew's heart skipped a beat as he felt a surge of fear. He tried to push the feeling aside, telling himself he was being irrational, but he couldn't shake off the sense that Judd's gaze was suffocating him. As the night wore on, Andrew found himself growing more and more agitated, his senses on high alert as he waited for Judd to make his next move. But Judd simply continued to watch, his eyes never leaving Andrew's face, his presence a constant reminder that Andrew was being stalked. The air was thick with tension, and Andrew couldn't help but wonder what Judd's intentions were. Was he just curious, or was there something more sinister at play? As the darkness closed in around them, Andrew felt a sense of foreboding wash over him, a sense that his life was about to change forever.