March 10, 2012
6:15 PM PDT

"Do you like my dress?" Marlene Stella McFly asked - as she turned to her best friend, Lila Chessler. "I simply do want to look my best. I'm glad that your cousin managed to snag some front row tickets. It'll be so awesome, if Lady Gaga actually notices us."

"I think you look lovely," Lila replied, approvingly. "The neon pink and purple sequins are so becoming on you. So, uh, what about me? What do you think of my dress?"

"I certainly dig the glittery electric blue look," Marlene replied, smiling. "I mean, it sure brings out your blue eyes. Perhaps, after the concert, we could meet Lady Gaga."

"Well, I've got my autograph book," Lila commented, smiling broadly. "It's too bad that your brother doesn't like Lady Gaga. If you ask me, hard rock is really for lo-res bojos. I mean, Avenged Sevenfold? Gimme a break! That's not music, that's zipping noise."

"Yeah, I don't get how he can listen to that," Marlene agreed, nodding. "I really don't get how he can stand music with screaming in it. I can scream, too. I'd be happy to scream at him. Now, Lady Gaga, on the other hand... her music is quite melodic."

"You've got that right," Lila agreed. "At any rate, my cousin should be here soon. I'm so looking forward to this. I'm sure glad that your parents finally think that you're old enough to go to concerts. After all, we are fourteen years old. We really aren't small children, anymore. No offence, but I quite find your brother to be a bit... immature."

Marlene sighed, as she glanced around her bedroom. While she agreed that Marty Jr still tended to act like a child, she felt very uncomfortable with other people criticizing him. He was her brother, and only she was the one that was allowed to criticize him.

"I'm sorry, Marly," Lila apologized, her voice softening. "I understand that you have a sense of family loyalty. As I am an only child, I simply don't know what it's like to have a brother... or a sister, for that matter. I can't say that I feel like I'm missing much."

"Well, he can be a bit annoying," Marlene replied, softly. "So, anyway, I sure do hope to hear Lady Gaga sing Bad Romance. That is my absolute favourite song. Just Dance is also a great song, as well as Poker Face. And then, of course, there's Alejandro."

"Hey, let's not forget Paparazzi," Lila added, smiling. "As well as her current hit, Born This Way. By the way, what outfit do you think she'll be wearing? I admire her sense of style. The only outfit that I really was not keen on was her meat dress, and that's mostly because looking at meat makes me feel sick. Just imagine all the cholesterol!"

"At least, she wasn't stuffing all of that in her mouth," Marlene commented, grimacing. "I certainly wouldn't mind seeing her wearing a lettuce outfit, though. I bet she'd quite look so swaggy. Or else, she could make a dress out of sliced cucumbers. That's be..."

"That's what I quite admire about her," Lila replied, admiringly. "You really never know what she's gonna come up with, next. Anyway, we should really start heading out."

"Yeah, this is one moment when we don't wanna be late," Marlene agreed, as the duo began to leave Marlene's bedroom. "I've really been looking so forward to this. I hope I can get a hologram of her singing a song. My old one is really starting to get faded."

"That would really be awesome," Lila agreed. "I heard that they have new holograms, now, of her performing Born This Way. I can just put it on my nightstand, turn off the light, and turn the hologram on. Come to think of it - I could watch it, all night long."

"That sounds delightful," Marlene commented, smiling. "I should be able to afford one. Of course, I'm determined to own all the Lady Gaga holograms as possible. I guess I'm just that big of the fan." With a sigh, she added. "I always quite thought that Emerald Green was pretty. It's just a shame that she decided to do hard rock, instead of pop."

"Yeah, that's quite a real shame," Lila agreed, shaking her head. "I mean, a pretty girl like her just should not be involved in such an aggressive and hyper-masculine type of music. Honestly, there is nothing wrong with being feminine. Femininity is beautiful."

"In all fairness," Marlene pointed out, quietly, "Lady Gaga really isn't all that feminine, either. At least, not in the traditional sense. However, she quite has a great sense of fashion - and she does pop. I'd be so disappointed, if she ever decided to do rock."

"Oh, please don't even suggested that," Lila pleaded, groaning. Suddenly, they heard a car horn. "Well, I think that's Rita. We certainly don't want to keep her waiting."

Marlene nodded, as the two of them ran outside. She smiled, as she really felt excited about the concert. Maybe, just maybe, her idol would take notice her, Lila, and Rita.

"Hello, you girls," Rita greeted, as Marlene and Lila stepped into the car. Lila took the front seat, while Marlene sat in the back. "I can certainly tell that you two are just as excited as I am. I have been to twelve shows, and there wasn't one that I disliked."

"So I guess tonight makes show number thirteen, eh?" Lila asked, smiling. "Well, I sure hope that this doesn't indicate misfortune for us. As for Marly, this is her first show."

"Oh, really?" Rita asked, turning towards the back. "Well, Marly, I can guarantee that you will really enjoy the show. I really do love her on-stage persona - and she sounds so much better live, then she does on any of her albums. She's got a soulful voice."

"You are so lucky, Rita," Marlene replied, as she felt a little envious. "Of course, if you hadn't offered to take us along, Mom might not have let me to go to the concert. That would've really crushed my heart. I'm sick of Mom treating me like I'm still a little girl."

"My mom's still like that, at time," Rita explained, gently, "and I'm nineteen years old. I do completely sympathize with you. You really should think on the positive, though. At least, your mom is letting you go. As frustrating as it can be, I'm really starting to understand my mom's side. It can be hard for moms to accept that their kids are..."

"... growing up?" Marlene asked, quietly. Rita nodded. "Well, that sure doesn't make it less frustrating for me. I am very sick of being told that I can't do this or that. I should be able to do more things, now that I am a teenager. I should have more freedom."

"I understand how you feel," Rita replied, softly. "Believe me, when I was your age, I sure felt the same. I didn't understand why my parents wouldn't let me attend certain functions, or why I couldn't stay out as late as I wanted to. It felt so unfair to me."

"Yeah, that's quite the same way my parents are," Marlene grumbled. "I mean, I always have to be home by midnight - even though my friends can stay out longer. It is quite majorly embarrassing to have to be the first one to leave - because, if I'm not home by midnight, then I get grounded. Honestly, why do my parents do this to me?"

"I'm very sure they just want you to be safe," Rita suggested. "Anyway, here we are - at the Hill Valley Amphitheatre. Please, Marly, just try to relax - and be grateful that your parents are letting you go to the Lady Gaga concert. Cheer up, Marly - okay?"

Marlene nodded, as the trio stepped out the car. As much as she quite hated to admit it, Rita really did have a point. Her parents really were not all that strict - and, in fact, they were quite easy-going. She just wished that her parents were not so protective.

oooooooooo

After the concert, Marlene felt quite ecstatic. Any negative feelings that she had prior to the concert were now gone. She really did enjoy the show, and she was looking for the hologram that she wanted. To her delight, there were many tables full of them.

"So, Rita," Marlene asked, turning to her best friend's cousin, "do you think we'll really be able to meet her? I swear that there were some times... when she glanced at us."

"Nah, I doubt it," Rita replied, shaking her head. "I never really did get an opportunity to meet her. I mean, she just has too many fans... she can't meet with all of them."

"Well, I guess that's okay," Marlene replied, with a small smile. "I still feel glad that we attended. I wonder when she'll be swinging by Hill Valley, next. I sure loved the outfit that she had on. Anyway, you certainly were right about her sounding better live."

"Thank you so much for taking us, Rita," Lila added, with heartfelt gratefulness. "This was quite enjoyable. Well, I suppose we'd better pick up the holograms - before they are all gone. They don't cost very much. We could even pick up more, if we'd like."

"I think I'll just get the Born This Way hologram, tonight," Marlene replied, smiling. "It'll be enough, for awhile. Although, sometime, I'd like to replace my Bad Romance one."

"Well, as for me, I happen to have the whole collection," Rita commented, cheerfully.

"Oh, lucky you," Marlene replied, with a hint of envy. "You'll have to show us them."

"Sure," Rita replied, smiling. "Tomorrow, you two could come over by my place - and I can show all of them to you. At any rate, what are we waiting for? Let's get going!"

Marlene nodded, as they headed to one of the tables. One day, she hoped to also be a pop star. She rather hoped that, one day, she could even perform a duet with Lady Gaga. She really hoped that, one day, people would come to appreciate her singing.