6:00 PM PST
Marty Jr felt relieved, by the time the concert was over. He hoped nobody suspected that there was anything different about him or his performance. Everyone seemed to enjoy the concert, and he was sure this wouldn't affect his father's career too much.
"You did wonderful, Marty!" Lloyd called out, as he and Alex ran up to Marty Jr. "You know, I didn't see your girlfriend show up at here. I just thought it was quite strange for her to not make it. Is she feeling sick, or something? I mean, what's going on?"
"Yeah," added a girl, who was standing beside Zach, "I really tried to call Jennifer, but she wasn't home. She quite promised me that we'd go together. It's simply not like her to forget something that's this important. If you should happen to see her around, tell her that she should give me a call, okay? Anyway, I really do love your new song!"
"Thanks so much, uh, Zoe," Marty Jr replied, nervously. "I'm, uh, not quite sure what happened to Jennifer, either. I'm real disappointed that she didn't show up, as well. I mean, I was really hoping that she could come here and see our first performance."
"You, uh, really shouldn't be that hard on her," Alex was quick to add. "I mean, it may not even even be her fault that she couldn't show up. Anything might've happened to her, so I'd give her a chance to explain herself. So don't just jump to conclusions."
"I guess you're right, Calvin," Zoe replied, sighing. "Well, I can't ever be too mad at Jennifer - as she's sure a close friend of mine. If anything, I'm really just concerned about her. It's really not like her to simply forget about something this important."
"I sure don't want to, uh, see your friendship get in major trouble," explained Alex. To Marty Jr, he added, "Come with me down that hall. There are, uh, quite a few things I rather wanted to discuss with you." To the others, he added, "Marty and I will sure be back soon. By the way, I wish you guys the best on luck on future performances."
"C'mon, boys!" urged Zach. "There's a party down this way! Let's go! We're going to have pizza, pop, and rock and roll!" After a brief pause, he added, "You did so great tonight, Marty! I guess you were worried about our first major performance, eh?"
"Calvin and I will be right there, Zach," Marty Jr commented, as he flashed a lopsided smile. "We rather need to have talk in private. It shouldn't take us real long." Turning to Alex, he added, "I really hope I didn't perform too badly tonight. I mean, if I really mess this up for my father... Well, I'm sure he wouldn't be very happy with me."
"All right, Marty," Zach replied, smiling encouragingly, "we'll be waiting for you. This is the greatest night of our life. It's so neat to be able to prove Strickland wrong. We're not going to let anyone discourage us. That old bag can really go screw himself!"
"You did great, Marty!" Alex called out, as he threw his arms around his cousin. "I'm sure it wasn't quite easy for you. We really should head back to Doc's garage soon. After all, if we stay here for quite too long, we could actually risk being erased from existence - much like your father almost was, during that week he was in 1955."
"Well, it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," Marty Jr replied, softly. "It's just that I'm really far more used to performing my own songs. So what about you, Alex? How did your study date with Lloyd go? Did you two get to have any fun?"
"We did spend some time playing Nintendo," Alex replied, "and we had the radio on a lot. It's strange hearing how things were so different back in the '80s. I really do feel somewhat bad that we couldn't get out and do more stuff, but we just got a taste of what life was like in the '80s. It'd be nice if we could come back here, in the future."
"Well, why don't we give Doc a call?" suggested Marty Jr. "We could join the party, if Doc is still working on the time machine. You know, tonight was really supposed to be our date with the girls. I mean, it really was supposed to be our Valentine's dinner."
"Yeah, I feel so bad about this," agreed Alex. "Why don't you wait here, and I'll give Doc a call. If he's just still working on the time machine, we could spend some time at the party. It shouldn't take me long at all. I just hope he gets it fixed very soon."
"That would be very wonderful, Alex," Marty Jr agreed. "In a way, though, I hope he doesn't yet have it done. I mean, I want to spend some time at the party! It will quite be our chance to have a little taste of life as the teenager in the 1980s, after all."
Alex nodded, just as he headed down the hall to use the payphone. Marty Jr began to think of how videophones haven't even been invented. It sure was one invention from the future that he really liked, and he sure thought how nice it would be to see them on cellphones. Of course, one thing he really enjoyed was the hoverboard.
"Good news, Marty," Alex called out, when he returned. "Doc told me that he's really still in the middle of fixing the time machine, so we can spend some time at the party. We have meet him in Hill Valley Park by 8:00 though. He said he's very sure he would have everything fixed by then. So we have about an hour and a half to have fun!"
"Yay!" exclaimed Marty Jr, as the boys embraced. Then he added, "Well, Alex, what are we waiting for? Let's go join the party, and have some fun." As the boys ran out of the room he added, "The pizza smells simply delicious, doesn't it? I'm so hungry!"
oooooooooo
After enjoying the party for an hour and a half, Marty Jr and Alex went to meet Doc at Hill Valley Park. Marty Jr sure had some mixed feelings about the idea of returning home. On one hand, he was quite excited about going home. On the other hand, he and Alex really were beginning to actually enjoy the life of a teenager in the '80s.
"I wish we could've spent more time at the party," Marty Jr commented, wistfully. "It will be great to go back home, though. I know many people say that I have just a lot in common with my father - but that doesn't change the fact that I'm just not him."
"I know exactly what you mean, Marty," replied Alex, softly. "Well, we sure can't stay here for too long or else we might actually start to erase from existance. I could really imagine just how much of a scary experience that could be. That's exactly what would happen, though - if our parents stay in the future for too long. That would be bad."
"It really is strange to think that your dad hasn't met his wife, yet," Marty Jr said, just as he caught sight of Doc with the station wagon. "I guess her maiden name was April Schwartz, and she and her mother actually move to Hill Valley a little later this year."
"There you boys are," called out Doc, as he looked up. "I've finally managed to finish repairing the time circuits on the station wagon. Anyway, the sooner we actually get you guys switched back - the better it would be. I just appreciate how you two were such troopers about this - and I'm sure your father would appreciate that, as well."
"Right, Doc," Marty Jr replied, as he and his cousin stepped in the station wagon. "It was a little scary, but I'm very sure that wasn't as drastic as how our parents had to get our grandparents to fall in love. I can imagine that it'd be even more stressful."
"Yeah, and not to mention the lightning bolt," added Alex. "I quite must say, it is very convenient, having the Mr. Fusion. I mean, all you have to do is fill it up with garbage - and you're ready to go. It's also a lot less dangerous than plutonium, I'm sure. Even in 2016, plutonium isn't exactly sold at every corner drug store. It's very dangerous."
"Yeah, I don't think it ever will be," Marty Jr replied, laughing. "I was just cracking up, when Dad mentioned that Doc had actually said that to him, in 1955. You know, I just am curious about what the year 2046 will be like. I mean, can you imagine technology getting even more advanced? I certainly must say, it is a little bit of a scary thought."
"Let's see," Doc mused, as he turned on the time circuits, "it was 6:10 PM, when we left 2016 - and we just came back here at 2:40 PM. It is now almost 8:00 PM, so we will return to this date in 2015 at 11:30 PM. All right, boys, be sure to buckle up."
"Wait a minute, Doc!" called out Marty Jr, as he realized something. "Can't you simply take up back to our time at the very same time that you left. That way, we would still have time to bring our girls out for dinner? I mean, couldn't that be possible?"
"Under ordinary circumstances," explained Doc, "that wouldn't be any problem. These are no ordinary crcumstances, though. To bring you back any earlier sure could result in a time paradox. You see, because I ended up leaving your parents in 2016 - while I brought the two of you back here to 1986 - time has continued to run for them."
"Whoa, this is so heavy!" Marty Jr exclaimed. "In a very strange sort of way, I guess that makes sense. I sure feel bad that our sons had to take our place at dinner - but, then again, I've ended up taking his place at the concert. I hope things works out."
"I just think you worry too much, buddy," Alex replied, as he gave his cousin a rather friendly squeeze. "Everyone who was sitting around Lloyd and I mentioned how good your band was doing. In fact, if anything, I really think your father will be very proud of you. I'll admit that I actually feel a little worried about our dinner dates, though."
"All right, boys!" called out Doc, as he began to accelerate the station wagon. "Brace yourselves for temporal displacement." After taking in a deep breath, he added, "We can head over to the hospital right away. The switch shouldn't take very long at all."
