Make Believe: A Novella by Sharlay Page A

and put the movie on,” Anthony said.
    “Shut up! I’ll put it on when I want to. And luck ily for you, I want to put it on now,” he said, making us laugh all over again.
    After five minutes of Murphy telling us to shut up , and us laughing about him falling, we finally got into the movie. Nothing beats a night in with the guys watching The Godfather .
     
    * * *
     
    “That film is epic!” Murphy said as he turned the lights back on.
    “I second that,” Anthony agreed , stretched his arms in the air, and yawned. “Right, I’m beat. I’m heading home.”
    “Oh , come on man. It’s only ten fifteen,” Murphy groaned.
    I suddenly felt the vibration of my phone in my pocket and wondered if April was finally ready to talk.
    Leah? I opened up the message and found myself getting angry.
     
    This motel bed is so cold without you ;)
     
    “Me too.” I added, trying to keep my voice steady. I was done being blackmailed by Leah. It was time to sort this out. I was about to let her ruin what April and I have because she has some vendetta against Anthony. I had to end this once and for all. I was going to have it out with Leah, and then I needed to tell April the truth. No more lies.
    “You guys suck man. G uess it’s just me and you, Taise,” Murphy said.
    “Lucky me,” Taise muttered.
    “See you later guys,” I said turning to Murphy and Taise.
    “Yeah , laters,” Anthony added as we walked out the door. We received an uninterested nod from Murphy and a wave from Taise.
    “What’s up?” Anthony asked once we were outside.
    I showed him the text Leah sent me and saw the shock on his face.
    “Still think this is just about you?” I asked.
    “I don’t know. Maybe not. There’s got to be a reason why she doesn’t want me to see her, and tomorrow I will find out.”
    “Tomorrow?”
    “Yeah, I’m going to come in tomorrow. We need to get to the bottom of this, right?”
    “Right, thanks Ant.”
    “That’s what brothers are for, dude. Now, I got to go before Jess starts calling,” he said and I chuckled to myself.
    “And be c areful, this Leah girl sounds crazy.”
    “I know, I will. Thanks man.”
    “Let me know how it goes, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
     
    * * *
    Walking up to the motel, I had no idea how this was going to play out. I did not have a plan , but I knew I needed to get to the bottom of this problem. I was relieved when I saw the same desk clerk who was there when I checked Leah in.
    “Good evening sir, how can I help you?” he asked politely.
    “I don’t know if you remember me , but I came in with a friend of mine.”
    “Yes.”
    “I was wondering if it would be possible for me to go up and see her?” I asked.
    “I’m afraid she checked out already.”
    “What? When?”
    “I shouldn’t really be telling you this , but since you booked it,” he answered before scanning the reception area with his eyes. He lowered his voice and lifted his eyes up from the computer screen. “She left this morning.”
    “O K, thanks,” I replied, already halfway out the door.
    Nothing made sense anymore, why would she s end that message when she wasn’t there anymore. She really was trying to play games with me. Walking toward my car, I knew what I had to do. I needed to be honest with April.
     
    * * *
    Ten minutes later I pulled up outside of the house, and took a deep breath. Here it goes. I knew she would be mad because I had lied to her, but maybe she would understand why I felt like I needed to.
    I grabbed my keys out of my pocket before opening up the front door.
    “April?” I called out as I stepped inside.
    “Through here,” she shouted , I locked the door behind me.
    “I need to talk to you,” I replied, walking toward the living room.
    “Yeah, me too,” she replied. I walked into the room, looked at the two people sitting in the living room, and froze.
    “Don’t look so worried, Aiden. I’ve told April everything. No more lies,” Leah smiled , staring into my