Chapter 2
May 8, 1945, 6:08 p.m., Hill Valley, Mason St.
"Biff! Biff Tannen, you get out here right now!"
He snorts and sneaks past his gramma out to the back yard. He climbs up the tree, over the fence, and slides down into the Baines' yard. "What, Lorraine?"
The younger girl pulls him inside. "Listen!" They sit in front of the radio with baby Milton and her parents.
"That's right, folks, you heard it here first. It's all over in Europe. Victory in Europe. The Nazis signed the surrender, and President Truman declared today the official V.E. Day. Today marks the end of the war in Europe. Stay tuned for more news on the war in the Pacific!"
Static crackles over the radio as a Pepsi Cola ad plays.
Sam Baines turns the volume down and lights a cigarette. "About damn time."
"C'mon." Lorraine yanks on his arm, going outside. "Isn't it crazy?!"
Biff shrugs. "I guess."
"This is… history in the making!" she exclaims.
"Lots of people died, Lorraine. Don't be so excited!"
"But all those soldiers… they're so brave!"
"Only because they were on the right side."
She tilts her head. "Well, yeah."
"The strong side isn't always the right side." He shifts uneasily, cracking his knuckles.
Lorraine's eyes widen. "…Is this about what happened yesterday?"
The boy looks at her. "What?"
She sits down on the grass. "I heard about Billy Thomas an' what he did!"
"Billy Thomas is just a bully."
"So you hit him?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Lorraine."
Lorraine sighs. "Oh alright. But you shouldn't hit him back. Or else you're the bully. Anyways, you know his father—"
"Is the mayor. I know!" he snaps. "He won't let me forget it."
"Oh."
Biff groans and lies back in the grass next to her. "Yeah. Oh. Just stay out of it!"
She huffs. "I don't know why I try to be your friend, Biff Tannen! No wonder no one likes you. You're a bully too!"
"I never asked for a friend, Lorraine. You just decided to follow me everywhere!" he shouts.
She gasps and sits up. "Go home, Biff."
He looks at her in surprise. "What?"
"I said, GO HOME!"
Biff rolls to his feet. "Fine. You're no better than the rest of the kids at school."
"At least I've tried," Lorraine reminds him.
"Only to give up!"
"Because you make it so hard," she mutters, standing next to him. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for what I said."
"No you're not."
The girl shrugs. "I am. But if you don't want to believe me, you can leave. Otherwise, we'll try being friends again tomorrow. I'll teach you."
He chuckles. "Sure you will."
"I will. You'll see, Biff."
