**Chapter 1: A Boy Left Behind**

The sun beat down on the sidewalk as 13-year-old Jay Bilzerian walked with his head down, his eyes scanning the pavement for any sign of food. He had been walking for what felt like hours, his stomach growling with hunger. His parents had left him home alone for their vacation, and Jay had quickly learned to fend for himself. It wasn't the first time he had gone without food, and it probably wouldn't be the last. As he turned the corner onto Main Street, Jay spotted a dumpster behind a restaurant. He had found food in dumpsters before, and he hoped to find something edible today. He approached the dumpster cautiously, making sure no one was watching. He lifted the lid and began to dig through the trash, his hands getting messy as he searched for anything worth eating. Just as Jay was about to give up, he heard a voice behind him. "Hey, kid, what are you doing?" Jay spun around, his eyes scanning the face of the speaker. It was Mr. Birch, a kind-looking man with slicked-back salt and pepper hair. Jay had met him a few times before; his parents were friends with the Birchs. "Just looking for food, sir," Jay replied, his eyes downcast. Mr. Birch's expression softened. "You're the Bilzerian boy, aren't you? I didn't know your parents were leaving you home alone." Jay shrugged. "They just left, sir." Mr. Birch nodded sympathetically. "Well, you can't stay on the streets. Why don't you come with me?" Jay hesitated, unsure of what to do. But Mr. Birch seemed genuinely kind, and Jay trusted him. As they walked towards the Birch's house, Jay caught sight of Nick, Leah, and Judd Birch standing in the backyard. Nick looked up and saw Jay, and his face fell. "Great, Dad, who's that?" Nick asked, his voice laced with disapproval. "This is Jay Bilzerian," Mr. Birch replied. "His parents left him home alone, and I invited him to stay with us for the week." Nick scowled, clearly unhappy about the arrangement. Leah, on the other hand, looked curious, her eyes fixed on Jay. Judd, who had been standing at the edge of the group, took a step forward, his eyes locked on Jay. There was something in his gaze that made Jay feel uneasy, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. As they entered the house, Mrs. Birch greeted Jay warmly, offering him a sandwich and a glass of juice. Jay devoured the food, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. But as he looked around at the Birch family, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in for a complicated week.