Make Believe: A Novella by Sharlay

asked.
    “I have no idea , but I’m sure as hell going to find out. There’s a reason why she doesn’t want me to see her, and I think I need to know why.”
    The sound of the front door opening ended the conversation.
    “Until we figure this out , let’s just keep it between me and you, OK?” he asked me before the others joined us. “And not a word of this to the girls, OK?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Hey kids, daddy’s home!” Murphy announced.
    “You ’d make one creepy dad,” Anthony said, making us all laugh.
    “Do you know how many girls would like to call me daddy?” he said, grinning.
    “It had better be none. Otherwise my fist and your face are about to have a very intimate encounter,” I growled and looked at him.
    “Dude, you really need to lighten up on the whole me and Crystal thing man . We’re all adults around here, right?” he chuckled.
    “ Thin ice, Daddy , thin ice,” Anthony teased as he grabbed the bag out of Murphy’s hand. “What’s all this crap?” he asked with a puzzled look on his face.
    “ We’re playing strip poker,” he said, seriously.
    We all froze , and as we kept our eyes on Murphy, he suddenly burst out laughing. “Oh, the look on your faces,” he said as he continued laughing by himself. “Classic, absolute classic.”
    “Moron,” Anthony said , then slapped Murphy upside his head.
    “No! The head and the face are no-go areas. They’re too precious,” he moaned as Anthony rolled his eyes.
    “What’s this stuff?”
    “Part of our next activity. It’s the last of Marissa’s clothes. I thought we could pee on them, and then set them on fire,” he said seriously.
    “He’s not kidding is he?” I asked Taise.
    “Nope, been trying to talk sense in to him on the way back,” he said in disbelief.
    “Time?” I asked Ant.
    “Time,” he agreed, and right on cue we both hit the moron in his head again.
    “Ouch, you guys are going to give me amnesia if you keep smacking me around like that!”
    “Oh shut up, you douche!” Anthony replied, smiling.
    “Did you Google it?” I asked.
    “ Um...not yet,” he said, shyly. I shook my head and laughed to myself.
    “So what are we actually doing tonight, dude, I thought you had it all planned?” Anthony asked impatiently.
    “Why? What time does Cinderella have to leave the ball?” Murphy teased. I tried not to laugh, but it was funny. We all knew Jess was going to call, and tell him to get home soon. It was only a matter of time.
    “ Shut up! I go home when I want. I’m a man,” Anthony claimed, sticking out his chest a little.
    “Oh yeah, and what time would that be?” Murphy pushed as his smile increased.
    “Well, I’m tired so probably around eleven.”
    It was silent for about two seconds before the three of us were howling in laughter.
    “Even Cinderella got til midnight! You are so whipped man!” Murphy said, trying to control his laughter.
    Anthony threw me a glance, but the smile on my face told him that he was not getting any help from me .
    “Yeah , and if you don’t shut up, I’m going to leave behind more than a glass slipper,” he replied.
    “Oh, so sensitive,” Murphy teased. “And, for those of us whose balls are still intact, I have The Godfather ,” he stated, proudly.
    “You’re a moron , but a moron with good taste,” Anthony laughed messing up Murphy’s hair with his fist.
    “What can I say, my taste is impeccable, right Aiden?” he said as he winked at me.
    Knowing that he was referring to Crystal, I grabbed a pillow and hauled off and hit him straight in the face. It was so hard it knocked him off the edge of the chair, causing us all to start laughing.
    “Ah dude , that was uncalled for,” he said, pushing himself off the floor.
    “I would pay to see that again,” Anthony laughed.
    “It can be arranged.”
    “Shut up man, it wasn’t that funny,” Murphy moaned and rubbed his head.
    “It kinda was ,” Taise added, still laughing.
    “Quit being a baby ,