Chapter 2
Saturday, July 12th, 1986
Hill Valley
5: 23 A. M.
Marty was awakened abruptly by someone turning him over. "Time to get up," George sing-songed in his ear, sounding like he could barely contain his excitement. "We're going camping."
Marty blearily blinked open his eyes. "Wha? What time is it?" he mumbled.
"Just about 5: 30 in the morning. Come on, up and at 'em!"
"Jesus, you meant daybreak literally?" Marty groaned and let his head fall onto the pillows. "Dad, it's way too early for this!"
"I said daybreak and I mean daybreak," George insisted. He pulled the limp teen out of bed and forced him into a standing position. As usual, Marty had slept in his clothes. "Change clothes and come out to the camper."
It took a moment to process the order, but Marty eventually made his way to the closet. He managed to take out a shirt and throw it on the bed. He quickly followed it there. Irritated, George woke him back up. "Fine, just put on your sneakers and follow me."
This Marty could handle. He pulled on his worn Nikes and stumbled after his father. Lorraine and Linda were already in the camper, not looking any happier than Marty. "Dad, I need my beauty sleep," Linda whined.
"George, the campground isn't going anywhere. Why can't we wait a couple of hours, go to the campsite, and wait for Doc and Mystie to join us?" Lorraine asked.
"If we're going to go camping, we might as well get there bright and early to enjoy the day." George happily hopped into the driver's seat. "What's the fun of getting to your campsite in mid-afternoon?"
Linda groaned. "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. . . ."
"Stop complaining. You'll be thanking me for this later."
They swung by Knight Apartments and picked up Dave. He wasn't in the best mood as he threw in his bag and climbed in. "Come on, Dad, I'm exhausted. I was up half the night finishing paper work!"
"It's not like the camper doesn't come with cots," George pointed out. "Trust me, early morning is the best time to get there."
Dave collapsed onto the floor and looked up at the rest of his family. "Why'd you marry him, Ma?"
"I know they're hard to see at the crack of dawn, but your father has his good qualities," Lorraine yawned. "Believe it or not, this is a complete turnaround from when he was a teenager."
"I'll believe that when I see it," Dave retorted. Marty forced himself not to smile.
The next stop was Doc's house, where the vampires were waiting. They handed out breakfast sandwiches from the Burger King as they got in. "We figured you might be hungry," Doc said as the McFlys eagerly chowed down.
"That's the spirit!" George nodded enthusiastically. "See, breakfast at dawn, just what you need!"
"He's really gung-ho about this vacation, huh?" Mystie whispered.
"He can get obsessive at times," Lorraine whispered back.
"I don't think it's obsession as much as caffeine," Doc revealed, sniffing George. "I can smell an excess of coffee in his mint. How many cups did you have, George?"
"Only five, but -- my what?"
"Each person on earth has their own smell, I've discovered," Doc explained. "Yours is mint."
The rest of the McFlys got interested. "What's mine, Doc?" Linda asked.
Doc sniffed her. "Freshly watered grass."
"Oh, wonderful."
"Linda, that's not a bad smell at all," Mystie reassured her. "I once knew an unfortunate who smelled like dog poop."
"Not while I'm eating," Marty said, holding up a hand. "Hey, I don't smell like that, do I?"
"Of course not! I believe you've got the most unique smell of the bunch."
"I've never ceased to be amazed by it," Doc agreed. "You smell exactly like the Burger King."
"Get outa town!" Marty laughed, giving Doc a playful shove. "I do not!"
"I'm serious! Burgers, fries, the whole meal!"
"Even soda?"
"Even soda."
"Jesus." Marty looked at his half-eaten breakfast sandwich doubtfully. "Maybe I should cut down on this stuff."
"I doubt you created the smell with your eating habits. After all, Linda doesn't consume grass." He smiled at Linda. "Unless it's some sort of beauty secret I haven't heard about." Linda threw half a hash brown at him.
Dave glanced out the window. "Wow, look at that sunrise," he said, smiling.
Everyone crowded around to look. "It is nice," Lorraine agreed, getting a mushy look on her face. "George and I watched the sunrise once."
"It would look better from higher up, I'd bet," Marty said, remembering his experience with Jennifer last year.
"Beautiful," commented Mystie with a yawn. "Too bad it means bedtime for Emmett and me." She and Doc lay down and cuddled up together, getting comfortable. Marty joined them a moment later, absolutely exhausted. Doc turned his head to see the teen snuggle up against his back, using him for a pillow. "Comfortable?" he inquired.
Marty nodded, closing his eyes. Doc smiled and went to sleep. The rest of the gang seemed to think this was a very good idea and followed suit.
Saturday, July 12th
7: 59 A. M.
After a couple of hours of driving, including getting lost and having to double back, George finally pulled up to the entrance of Lloyd and Fox Campgrounds. A park ranger approached the camper. "Well, hello Mr. McFly!" he greeted the author cheerfully. "I didn't know you enjoyed camping."
"I felt my family and I needed a break. It's been a tough summer for all of us," George said.
"Troubles with your new book?" George nodded. "There's plenty of campsites open. We've got a wild animal alert in effect, just so you know. Some people have complained about creatures breaking into their campsites."
"Okay," George said, suddenly nervous. Doc had warned him the soulless vampires made their home in the woods. What if they were the cause of the break-ins? He certainly didn't want his family and friends to get hurt. "I'll watch out for myself."
"Rangers will be scouting the area every half hour if you need any help or have anything to report," the ranger nodded. "Have a good time!"
"I intend to." He paid the entrance fee and drove in. He slowly proceeded the road, scanning each free campsite. He finally found the perfect place near the pond. With a grin, he pulled in. "Okay, everybody, we're -- YAAAAAH!"
The McFlys, Doc, and Mystie snapped awake. "What's going on? Where's the fire?" Marty asked, looking around.
"Nothing, it's nothing," George apologized. "Just the way you were all curled up there, arms and legs sticking out in weird places. . . . You looked like some sort of flesh-melded monster."
"Thanks a lot, Dad," Linda griped.
"Be easy on him. I think that with all the driving, he's finally coming off his caffeine high," Doc said.
Indeed, George was starting to feel the effects of waking up at the crack of dawn and downing five cups of coffee. "Maybe you're right," he said, looking a bit dizzy. "I do feel very tired now."
"Aww, why don't you come back here for a nap, Georgie," Lorraine said as everyone untangled themselves. "I'll take over driving."
"No need. We're here." He hopped into the back with the rest of the group. "So all of you can go out and explore." He climbed into a bunk built into the side of the camper. "And, Lorraine, don't call me 'Georgie.'"
"Are you and Mysteria going to stay here with George or come with us?" Lorraine asked Doc.
Doc checked the level of shade. "I'm not all that tired right now, but I don't know. Mystie?"
"I'm tired, but you can go if you want." She went back to sleep. Doc shrugged and followed the rest of the McFlys out.
Dave stared around at the expanse of trees surrounding them. "Whew," he whistled. "This would be a great place for an executive retreat."
"Everything smell like pine needles," Linda complained.
"To your nose, maybe," Doc said, sniffing the air. "I detect thousands of different scents." He closed his eyes and savored them. Evergreen, maple, pond lilies, white chocolate, a freshly burned out campfire --
He opened his eyes and frowned. "White chocolate?"
"So what? Somebody's got a candy bar out here," Marty shrugged.
"I still only smell pine needles."
Doc smiled at Marty. "No, Marty. This is a special white chocolate. If you want to smell something different, Linda, you might want to go down to the pond."
"Special?" Marty repeated incredulously.
Doc nodded mysteriously. "For one thing, that white chocolate is moving right to our camp." A moment later, he was proven right by a rustle in the underbrush. Marty moved back, but Doc moved forward. "Hi Jennifer."
Jennifer appeared, looking a little sweaty. "Doc! Marty!" She ran into her boyfriend's arms. "You didn't tell me you were camping here!"
"Dad only decided we were gonna two days ago!" Marty laughed, very happy to see her. "Woke us all up at dawn to get us here too. Where are you camping?"
"Right next to you." Jennifer gave him a sappy grin. "You're welcome to visit anytime."
"You too." They shared a brief kiss.
The moment was ruined by a pair of loud yells from the camper. Jennifer pulled back from the kiss with a wince. "Ouch! Feels like someone just smacked me in the mouth!"
"Mystie!" Doc rushed into the camper to find his wife holding her jaw and George sucking in air. "Mysteria, are you all right? What happened here?"
"George just nailed me in the mouth," she moaned.
"She hit me with a pillow three times!" George defended himself. "I was trying to defend myself!"
"You were snoring again! Do you know how painful your snoring is to vampire ears?"
"I don't complain when you use the refrigerator to keep your spare blood in!"
Doc could tell this was about to escalate into a war. "Maybe one of you should sleep in a different place," he suggested, trying to remain neutral.
"I'm not moving," George snapped, folding his arms petulantly.
"I will," Mysteria said, getting up. "I felt Jennifer outside, I want to say hello. I'm not going to be able to sleep with Trumpet-Nose here anyway." She accompanied Doc outside as George fell back onto the bunk. "Some way to start the vacation."
"Well, things can only go uphill from here," Doc rationalized, crossing his fingers. "I can understand hitting him with a pillow. Want me to--?"
"No, I don't want the innocents to be subjected to his evil. Besides, I bet now we can slip away," she added, grinning wickedly.
Doc smiled back, eyes glowing. "I've got the sleeping bags. . . ."
Saturday, July 12th
8: 04 P. M.
Doc sat down on the provided picnic table and looked around the campsite. Lorraine, exhausted from getting up at dawn and trying to keep her kids happy, was dozing against a tree. Linda and Dave were having a vicious argument about some imagined slight. George was getting frustrated in his attempts to start a campfire. And Mystie was sulking in the camper, still upset at George for ruining her sleep.
At least Marty's enjoying himself, thought Doc. Marty was visiting Jennifer's camp, staying away from his tense family. If things continue the way they're going, we're all going to be miserable this entire time. Hopefully, though, things will get better. Like I told Mysteria, things can only go uphill from here.
He glanced around again. Even so, the tense atmosphere here is affecting me in a negative way. I think I'll take a walk, maybe join Marty. He hopped off the table and proceeded, unnoticed, into the woods.
Lorraine was startled awake by her children's yells. "You throw yourself at any boy who comes your way! Prove to me you're not a slut!"
"I do not! And I haven't done anything with any of my boyfriends! Hell, at least I have relationships! You just always have to be right!"
"No, you do!"
"Will you both stop it?" Lorraine demanded, not in a good mood. Why did George have to drag us here so early?
Dave and Linda glared at each other. "Sure thing, Mom," Linda spat out. "I don't want to be anywhere near this jerk!" They stomped off in opposite directions, both heading into the underbrush. Lorraine sighed and shook her head.
Mysteria exited the camper a moment later and noticed George at the fire. Her temper had cooled quite admirably, and she was ready for a truce. "Need any help?" she asked politely.
Unfortunately, George's temper had been on the rise ever since the incident. "Why? So I can get some rest and you can smother me again?! Listen you, just because you're a damn vampire doesn't give you the right to complain about my snoring! Or to hit me with a pillow!"
"I'm sorry for that, George. I know it was the completely wrong way to respond to your snoring. I should have got up and moved," Mystie apologized, slightly taken aback by the author's outburst. Normally George got quieter when he was upset, not louder. "It's just that I have sensitive hearing. I am sorry."
"Yeah, right, you're sorry. You just want to show me up again."
"George, she's trying to apologize," Lorraine said.
"What is this, 'Gang Up On George Day?!' I try to give you all a nice vacation in the woods. I try to make this a great experience for everyone. And all I receive are insults! It's not like I planned for all of this to happen!" He got up, throwing aside his firewood. "Go back to that goth club where you belong!" he snarled, inches from Mystie's face, then stormed off into the woods like his children before him.
"George?" Lorraine looked after him, then at Mystie. "I'm sorry, Mysteria, he's obviously very tense."
Mysteria snorted. "I try to make peace and he takes it as an excuse to blow up at me." She sighed. "I think I'm gonna take that walk Emmett said to earlier."
"I'll try to catch up to George," Lorraine agreed, getting up. "Tense or not, he had no right to blow up at you. And I really didn't want our vacation to begin with everyone fighting." They walked off in different directions.
Five minutes later, a park ranger walked into the camp. "Hello?" he called, looking around. "Anybody here?" He searched the camp, ending with glancing into the camper. He saw what looked like bodies underneath blankets and jackets. "Eh, they must be all asleep," he dismissed it.
He noticed a sign on the ground near the tree Lorraine had been leaning against. He grumbled some curses and nailed it back up. "There. Stupid thing keeps falling down." Then he walked off to the next camp.
It was too bad really he hadn't checked the camper twice. Otherwise he might have noticed that the "bodies" were, in fact, pillows and yet-unpacked bags. He would have been more eager to look for them then, considering the sign:
DO NOT WALK ALONE IN THE FOREST.
THERE ARE NO CLEAR TRAILS.