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“It's not like she's going to tell the whole world that her sixteen-year-old daughter ran off to marry a man in his twenties. Ya think?”
    “Maybe not…” I frown as I consider this. “But something still doesn't quite ring true.”
    Olivia gives me a curious look. “What do you think, Sam?”
    I kind of shrug. “I don't know, but it just seems a little freaky that this Colby guy… I mean, this grown man who supposedly has it all together is seriously interested in Kayla, wanting to marry her? Even if she was pretending tobe older, it still doesn't make sense. Surely he could tell that she was, well, you know, kind of immature.”
    “Ya'd think,” agrees Amelia.
    “Unless he's really a nerd,” suggests Olivia. “Kayla might've exaggerated his good looks.”
    “I wonder if there are any photos.” I glance at Emma.
    “Nope. The police already searched everywhere. Nothing like that was found.”
    “I don't buy that,” says Amelia. “Why would Kayla be so eager to run down there and marry this guy if he really was a nerd? Kayla is definitely not into nerd-types.”
    “Good point.” Brittany nods.
    “Okay, maybe it's just a hunch,” Emma says, “but I remember this time when Kayla and I were talking—back before the thing with Parker happened—and Kayla was saying how much she hated living at home. And you guys know how weird her mom's been since her dad left. Anyway, Kayla told me that the first chance she had to leave, she'd be outta there. She even told me how she would imagine Prince Charming coming to take her away. And yeah, it seemed silly at the'time, but looking back… I think that's just what she was looking for.”
    “And you think she found her Prince Charming in Colby?” Olivia asks.
    Emma nods. “And that's what I told the police.”
    “Did they buy it?” I ask.
    She shrugs. “I think they're looking into it.”
    “Have they called her aunt in San Diego?”
    “Of course, Samantha.” But Emma just shakes her head. “She hasn't heard a word from her.”
    “Yeah,” I admit. “I guess that wouldn't be too smart. I mean, if she really does want to get married and not © be found.”
    “So is that it?” asks Olivia. “We just figure Kayla has married Colby and that they'll live happily ever after?”
    Amelia laughs. “Yeah, right. What are the odds of a marriage with a sixteen-year-old and a UCLA grad making it?”
    “Maybe if it's just about the sex?” Emma suggests with a devious twinkle in her eye.
    “You
would
say that,” says Brittany.
    “Well, I think it's very sad.” Olivia frowns.
    I nod. “I think it's tragic.”
    “You mean the part about the sex?” teases Emma.
    I shrug. “Whatever.”
    “Okay, here comes the sweet little Christian lecture about how we should all be saving ourselves for our future husbands.” Emma looks directly at Olivia and me.
    I glance at my watch. “Don't worry,” I say as I stand and pick up my tray. “There's no time for a sermon right now, but if you'd like to schedule something for, say—”
    “No, no. That's okay.” Emma winks at me.
    “Thanks for enlightening us about Kayla,” Olivia tells Emma. “I think…”
    “I personally don't know what to think,” Brittany admits as we walk over to dump our trays.
    “Yeah.” Amelia nods. “It's pretty bizarre.”
    As I walk toward the science department, I'm thinking do about the “sermon” that I'd really like to give Emma. I'd like to explain that the reason God wants her to save sex for q marriage is only because He loves her so much that He wants her to have the best life possible. I'd like to say the same things my dad said to me back when I had just 5” turned twelve. Of course, it had seemed a little premature at the time, but then not long after our little talk, he was gone.

Three
    M y first unusual dream involved a guinea pig and my dad. Oh, my dad wasn't in the dream, but he helped me to resolve it. I was about six at the time, and I had this vivid dream where