I too think both of these are plausible. For some reason I think there was some kind of underlying tension going on with at least one of the friends - don't know on which one's part... I just can't quite put my finger on it.
Speculation upon my part, I know, but what also leads me to believe there may have been something going on between these friends (or at least on the part of one of them) is the fact that not one of these friends went to be with MH when found she was locked out.
To me it comes across as well, she got herself locked out...oh well...
You may be on to something!
This may not be significant at all, but in one TV interview (not sure now which one), DH said that he, Gil and Morgan had been having a wonderful relationship (or words to that effect) for the last six months It's curious -- perhaps just coincidence -- that he had bought the tickets for the concert (for Morgan and her friends, it has been reported) six months prior to the concert.
I wonder if that had been a gesture on his part to help Morgan connect again with some of her old friends whom she might not have seen for a while. And another possibility: her relationships with all the other eight friends might not have thrived all the way through high school, and makes that a possible reason for her transferring out of Northside H. S. for her senior year. Even if the Harringtons moved into another school district, I believe most school districts would allow a junior in good standing to continue on for their senior year if the family wanted their student to stay there.
I continue to wonder about Morgan's experiences at Northside. MOO.
Thoughts and prayers go with the searchers today....