"Abandoned on the Streets"

Jay Bilzerian rummaged through a nearby trash can, his stomach growling with hunger as he searched for anything edible. His eyes scanned the area, making sure no one was watching, before he pulled out a half-eaten pizza crust. He took a big bite, savoring the taste as he walked down the street. This was a familiar scene for Jay, who had been left to fend for himself many times by his neglectful parents. As he walked, Jay's thoughts drifted to his dream of becoming a magician. He loved magic and was always practicing tricks in his room, but his family rarely paid attention to his interests. His parents were always busy with their own things, his dad traveling for work and his mom locked away in her craft room. Jay's older brother, Kurt, and his friend, Val, were the ones who usually spent time with him, but their interactions were far from pleasant. Jay's eyes began to well up with tears as he thought about his situation. He had no one to turn to, no one to care for him. He was just a 13-year-old boy, left to take care of himself. As he turned the corner, he noticed a familiar house in the distance - the Birch's residence. Mr. and Mrs. Birch were always kind to him, and their kids, Nick, Leah, and Judd, were people he had met through school. As he approached the house, he saw Mr. and Mrs. Birch sitting by the pool, sipping drinks. They looked up and spotted Jay, their expressions changing to concern. "Jay, sweetie, what are you doing here?" Mrs. Birch asked, getting up from her chair. Jay hesitated, not wanting to admit that his parents had left him behind. "I...I was just out for a walk," he stammered. Mr. Birch got up and walked towards Jay, his expression soft. "Jay, we know your parents are away on vacation. We've seen them leave. Why didn't you come to us sooner?" Jay looked down, feeling ashamed. "I didn't want to be a burden." Mrs. Birch put a gentle hand on Jay's shoulder. "You're not a burden, dear. You're welcome to stay with us for the week. We'll make sure you're taken care of." Jay's eyes lit up with gratitude as Mr. and Mrs. Birch invited him to stay. As they walked towards the house, Jay noticed Nick standing by the window, looking unhappy. Jay had been friends with Nick since school, but he knew Nick didn't really like him or his family. Nick thought they were odd, and Jay couldn't blame him. His family was dysfunctional, to say the least. As they entered the house, Jay caught a glimpse of Leah, who was sitting on the couch, reading a book. She looked up and smiled at him. "Hey, Jay. Welcome to our home." Jay smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease. But as he walked further into the house, he noticed a boy standing in the shadows, watching him. The boy had an intense gaze, and Jay felt a shiver run down his spine. He had never seen him before. Leah noticed his gaze and followed it to the boy. "That's Judd, my brother," she said. "He's a bit...distant." Judd's eyes never left Jay's face, and Jay felt like he was being sized up. He didn't know what to make of Judd, but he could tell that he was different from the rest of the Birch family. As Mr. and Mrs. Birch showed Jay to the guest room, he couldn't help but wonder what the rest of his stay would be like. The story will continue based on your directions.