Chapter 1: The Ordinary Weekend

The sun was shining brightly on the Birch's house, casting a warm glow over the quiet neighborhood. Andrew Glouberman, a 13-year-old boy with short, fluffy brown hair and large brown eyes, walked up the path to the front door, his black-framed glasses perched on the end of his nose. He was wearing his usual green sweater and blue jeans, and his 5'2" frame looked a bit gangly as he rang the doorbell. The door swung open, and Nick Birch, Andrew's best friend, grinned at him. Nick was 14, with short, dark brown hair that stuck up in the front, and large blue eyes that sparkled with excitement. He was wearing a blue shirt with a white coat and blue jeans, and his 4'11" frame looked almost dwarfed by his oversized personality. "Hey, Andrew! Come on in!" Nick exclaimed, stepping aside to let Andrew enter. Andrew walked into the house, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. The Birch's house was a cozy, four-bedroom home with a big backyard and a pool. Andrew had been coming over for sleepovers almost every weekend for years, and he knew the house like the back of his hand. As he followed Nick into the living room, Andrew caught sight of Leah, Nick's older sister, lounging on the couch, her long, straight blonde hair cascading down her back like a golden waterfall. She was wearing a white top and a long, magenta skirt, and an orange butterfly clip held her hair back from her face. She glanced up at Andrew and smiled, but her eyes quickly returned to her phone. "Hey, Andrew," she said, her voice distant. Andrew smiled back at her, feeling a bit intimidated by Leah's popularity and laid-back demeanor. He made his way over to the kitchen, where Mr. and Mrs. Birch were preparing lunch. Mr. Birch, a tall, kind-faced man with short, slicked-back salt and pepper hair, smiled at Andrew. "Hey, Andrew! How's it going?" Andrew shrugged, feeling a bit uncomfortable. He wasn't used to being around people who were so... nice. His own parents were always yelling and arguing, and he often felt like he was walking on eggshells around them. "It's going okay, I guess," Andrew said, trying to sound casual. Mrs. Birch, a warm-smiling woman with long, wavy blonde hair, put a hand on Andrew's shoulder. "Well, we're glad you're here. Why don't you and Nick go get changed, and we'll get lunch ready?" Andrew nodded, feeling a surge of excitement. He loved spending weekends at the Birch's house. They always had so much fun, swimming and playing basketball and gossiping about school drama. As he followed Nick upstairs, Andrew couldn't help but feel grateful for his friend. Nick was always there for him, and he made Andrew feel like he was part of the family. But little did Andrew know, he was being watched. Judd Birch, Nick's older brother, was sitting in his room, surrounded by screens and wires. He had set up cameras in every room of the house, and he spent hours watching the footage, analyzing every move his family members made. And now, Judd's eyes were fixed on Andrew. He had always watched him from afar, but this time, he really looked at him. He studied Andrew's face, taking in the contours of his features, the way his eyes sparkled when he laughed. Judd felt a strange flutter in his chest, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. He had never really paid attention to Andrew before, but now, he couldn't look away. As the screens flickered and flashed, Judd's eyes remained fixed on Andrew, his mind whirling with thoughts and feelings he couldn't quite understand.