"New Beginnings"

As the sun set over the Birch's lavish backyard, Nick excitedly bounded downstairs, his blue eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Mom, Dad, it's finally happening! Andrew's coming over for the weekend!" he exclaimed, hardly able to contain his enthusiasm. Mrs. Birch, who was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen, smiled warmly as she wiped her hands on a towel. "I'll go call him and confirm," Nick said, already grabbing the phone from its cradle. Mr. Birch, seated in the living room with a book, looked up and nodded in approval. "That's great, son. I'm sure Andrew's parents are thrilled to have some time to themselves." As Nick dialed Andrew's number, Leah sauntered into the kitchen, her long blonde hair cascading down her back like a golden waterfall. She was engrossed in her phone, oblivious to the commotion around her. "What's going on?" she asked lazily, not looking up. "Andrew's coming over for the weekend," Nick replied, his voice trembling with excitement. Leah shrugged, her blue eyes flicking up briefly before returning to her screen. Judd, who had been quietly observing from the shadows, slipped into the kitchen unnoticed. His eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Nick before disappearing into the hallway. Meanwhile, Nick was chatting with Andrew on the phone, convincing him to spend the weekend at the Birch's. Andrew's hesitant voice filtered through the line, and Nick's parents exchanged an amused glance. They had been trying to meet Andrew for years, but his parents had always declined. After what seemed like an eternity, Andrew agreed, and Nick let out a triumphant whoop. "Yes! I'll pick you up at 5 pm on Friday!" he exclaimed, before hanging up and spinning around to face his parents. Mrs. Birch smiled and handed him a twenty-dollar bill. "Why don't you go buy some snacks for Andrew? I'm sure he'll appreciate it." As Nick dashed out the door, Judd reappeared, his eyes fixed intently on the empty hallway. He seemed lost in thought, his greenish-grey eyes clouded with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue. Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Andrew's mom handed him a small duffel bag. "Have fun, sweetie. We'll see you Sunday." Andrew nodded, his large brown eyes shining with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He adjusted his black-framed glasses and took a deep breath, smoothing out his green sweater. The doorbell rang, and Nick burst through the entrance, a bright smile plastered on his face. "Hey, buddy!" he exclaimed, snatching Andrew's bag and hefting it over his shoulder. As they made their way to the backyard, Andrew's eyes widened in awe at the Birch's opulent surroundings. The pool sparkled invitingly, and Andrew couldn't help but feel a pang of excitement. He had always dreamed of spending a weekend at the Birch's, and now that it was finally happening, he couldn't wait to dive in. As they approached the pool, Andrew noticed a figure watching them from the shadows. His eyes flicked up, meeting Judd's intense gaze. Andrew felt a shiver run down his spine as Judd's eyes seemed to bore into his very soul. He quickly looked away, unsure of how to react. Nick, oblivious to the tension, clapped Andrew on the back. "Let's get in the pool, dude! We've got a lot of catching up to do!" Andrew nodded, trying to shake off the feeling of unease. As they dove into the pool, Andrew couldn't help but wonder what the weekend had in store for him. As they swam and laughed, Judd watched from the sidelines, his eyes never leaving Andrew's face. A plan began to form in his mind, one that would change the course of their lives forever.