Chapter 4

Friday, September 2nd

3:49 P.M.

Marty found himself lying on the ground once again. "Augh! What the hell!"

"It's rude to swear in front of ladies!" Lucy exclaimed, looking indignant.

Emmett, however, was trying not to laugh. "Bad timing, Holly."

"I can see that."

Marty realized that the thing that had scared him was in fact a girl, about Emmett's age, hanging upside-down from a tree. Long black hair swung around her face, and her black dress was carefully tucked in to prevent it from falling and exposing her underwear. "Sorry about that," she said to Marty. "I was trying to scare Emmett over there."

"It's okay," Marty said, getting up with a grin. Now that the initial moment of terror had passed, he felt like laughing too. "You're good at that."

Holly grinned back. "Thanks. I try."

"Holly! What are you up to now!"

Another girl rushed onto the scene, shaking her head. She was wearing a long pink dress, and had her long brown hair done up in two pigtails. "You were trying to scare Emmett and Lucy again, weren't you? Oh Holly. . . ."

"Emphasis on trying," Emmett laughed. "She mistimed and frightened Mr. Jackson there instead."

The new girl turned worried eyes to Marty. The teen noticed they were the same chocolate brown as Doc's. She must be Emily! Jesus, I'm getting to meet everybody today. "Are you all right, Mr. Jackson?"

"Fine," Marty assured her. "Holly got me pretty good, though."

"I did, too," Holly said proudly, flipping herself over and swinging down.

"That's very unladylike," Lucy sniffed.

"When have you ever known me to act like a lady?" Holly retorted. Lucy just rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Please, Lucy, she didn't mean anything by it," Emmett said. "Oh, Marty, I'd like you to meet my sister Emily Brown and our mutual best friend Holly Handlen. Emmy, Hol, this is Michael 'Marty' Jackson."

"Pleasure to meet you," Emily said politely, shaking Marty's hand.

"Same here," Marty said. "You look a lot like your brother."

"I know. People tell us that all the time."

"Sorry about scaring you like that again," Holly said, also shaking his hand. "I don't usually go around terrifying random strangers."

"It's okay." Marty was about to say something else when he got his first good look at Holly's face. More specifically, her eyes. They were pale grey in color, but appeared to be flecked with violet. Marty had never seen a pair of eyes like that in his life. Realizing he was staring, he quickly looked away.

Holly smirked. "Wondering about my eyes, huh?" Marty blushed and nodded. "It's okay. I wonder about them a lot myself. I don't know how they ended up like this."

"They suit you," Marty said truthfully. Man, Doc, you were right. Black and white don't do them justice.

"Thanks. So how'd you stumble upon our resident genius?"

"We ran into each other -- literally," Emmett supplied.

"Were those boys chasing you again?" Emily asked, disgusted. "Emmett, you really have to learn to stand up for yourself! You're bigger than they are!"

"A) No, I'm not, Emily. We're all about the same height. B) I wouldn't survive standing up to them. I don't have the necessary muscles. Those boys play on the football team. They feel no pain." Emmett shifted his books, scowling. "Besides, I'd get in trouble if I stuck up for myself. Nobody in that college wants to lay a finger on any members of the football team. They're like royalty."

"I can relate," Marty muttered, remembering how honored the lunks on Hill Valley High's football team were, and how envious he had been as a freshman and sophomore.

"Even still, you shouldn't let them push you around like that."

"You know, I could--"

"Let's not start on the whole toad thing again, Holly," Emmett interrupted.

Holly pouted. "But I want to practice the shapeshifter spell! It's only temporary! Unless, of course, that's your objection."

Marty blinked. "Spell?" he repeated.

"Miss Handlen here thinks she's a witch," Lucy said coldly, obviously disgusted by Holly's very presence.

"It's a family trait," Holly said, glaring back at Lucy. "From my mother's side. Terrence, my older brother, and I were both born with the gift."

"I -- see."

Holly blushed a little. "You don't believe me, do you? It's all right, I'm not usually in the habit of telling strangers about me." She shot Lucy another look. "Unless someone else brings it up."

Lucy sighed. "Come on, Miss Handlen. Not even Emmett believes you're a witch."

"At least he isn't saying that I'm crazy. And besides, he's seen evidence of my witchcraft! Haven't you, Emmett?"

"I admit that you've done a few interesting things that I can't yet explain," Emmett admitted, looking from Holly to Lucy nervously, "but I'm not quite at the point of admitting you're a witch."

"I bet it would help if you let me try out the shape-shifting spell. I'd like to see you try and come up with a scientific explanation for that."

"It would, but I don't want you to -- and not because it would prove you right."

"Emmett, I'm sure I could get it to work!"

"On which try? Look at things from your point of view. What if you accidentally mess up the spell? Instead of toads, I could be facing werewolves. Or what happens if the spell has a bad effect on you? I don't want you getting hurt."

"I doubt I'd make that bad of a mishap. And trust me, you're worth whatever repercussions the spell would throw at me. I want you to be happy, Emmett."

"Can we please get going?" Lucy whined. "I have to be back at my mother's by 4:30 for my recital and then our dinner!"

"Great Scott, then we'd best hurry," Emmett said, checking both his watches. "We'll continue this discussion later, Holly."

"Fine with me. We were heading back to your house anyway. Don't worry, we won't get in your way," Holly added as Lucy shot them a withering look. "We'll stay back here and get acquainted with this Marty Jackson fellow." She put a hand on Marty's shoulder. "Make sure he isn't causing any trouble for Emmett."

Lucy sniffed and pulled Emmett ahead, muttering something about "the lower classes." Holly turned to Marty. "Well then, now that we've gotten rid of the Queen Snob, what are you doing hanging around Emmett? Most people I know would have run the first chance they got."

"Either that or started bullying him," Emily added, scowling.

"Yeah, he basically said as much," Marty admitted. "I was in town testing an invention a friend of mine had built, and it got broken when we ran into each other. Emmett offered to fix it for me. Well, I shouldn't say offered, he said he'd fix it and wouldn't take no for an answer."

Emily and Holly both laughed. "That's my little brother all right. Don't worry, you're in good hands. Emmett's a lot better at building and fixing things than he is experimenting with chemicals. Not that he isn't good with those too -- people just tend to remember the more explosive results."

"Yeah, I expect," Marty nodded, remembering how used he had become to the sound of an explosion from Doc's lab. "And -- well -- I got the feeling he could use the company. He seemed almost -- depressed."

Holly smiled sadly. "Yeah, Emmett's like that sometimes, sad to say. He's always had a problem making friends." She nudged Emily playfully. "Good thing I chose your table to sit at a few years ago, huh?"

"Definitely," Emily grinned back. "I'm glad to see that you've risen above the natural prejudices around him, Marty. Emmett could probably use some male company. He's generally either with us or with Lucy."

Holly shot a dark look at Lucy. "She doesn't deserve him," she said. "She's just so nasty to anyone who doesn't fit her narrow world view -- that is, who isn't as rich as God."

"I agree," Emily said, looking concerned. "All she ever wants to talk about is money. Emmett's admitted to me that he's been bored by some of their conversations. Why couldn't he have found some nice girl who was interested in science?" She suddenly blushed and looked at Marty. "I'm sorry, we really shouldn't be badmouthing her in front of you."

"No, it's fine," Marty assured her. "I've only known Lucy for about 20 minutes, and I agree with you. She kinda seems to radiate mean."

Emily sighed and nodded. "I don't know why he stays with her."

"Emily, it's obvious," Holly said. "He's lonely. He's deluded himself into thinking that she really loves him." She gave the couple in front of her a sad look. "What really worries me is if they get married. Then it'll be too late."

Marty just stopped himself from saying that Holly didn't need to worry. Instead, he just nodded and frowned.

Holly suddenly stopped and looked at him oddly. "What the -- now that doesn't make any sense."

"What doesn't?" Marty asked.

"You're -- you're giving off this strange -- I don't know. I'm sensing some sort of deeper connection between you and Emmett," she said, waving her hand between them. "Like -- you know each other, but you don't. I don't get it."

Marty's heart beat a little faster. He had been inclined to just dismiss Holly's talk of witchcraft before, but now. . . . Could it be that she was somehow sensing his friendship to Emmett's older self? He forced himself to shrug. "You're the witch, not me. I just didn't see the point of being mean to him when I met him. I know what he's going through because of my height."

Holly smiled again. "I see. I'm glad you feel that way. Enough kids don't." She suddenly frowned. "Uh, Marty, about the witch thing --"

"Don't worry, I'm not stuck in the Middle Ages," Marty said with a small smile. "You seem nice enough anyway. I'm not gonna make a fuss over it."

"Thanks. I'm not in the habit of shooting my mouth off like that just in front of anyone. It's just that I'm used to it just being us, and Emily, Emmett and Lucy all know."

"Yeah, I understand. Don't worry about it." Marty found himself grinning again as the Brown mansion came into sight. Finally, something he could relate to. "Nice place you've got, Emmett!" he called.

Lucy smirked. "Well, of course Emmett's home is going to be nice," she said snottily. "He comes from very good money. Our parents are the richest families on the block."

"And mine's the poorest," Holly said. "Funny though --we're not starving to death, and we're happy--"

"Holly," Emmett said imploringly as Lucy scowled.

"Just making a point," Holly said. Emmett sighed and turned back to Lucy.

"I thought it was good," Marty whispered, earning himself an appreciative grin.

As they approached the front door, they could see a man toiling in the hedges in front of the house, pulling the weeds clustering around the roots. He tipped his hat in greeting as the group neared. "Hello Master Emmett, Miss Lucy, Miss Emily, Miss Holly." He frowned at Marty. "Master--?"

"This is Marty Jackson," Emmett said as Marty nodded. "I'm repairing a device he had on him."

"Better not let Master Elias find out," the gardener warned. "You know how he feels about such things."

"All too well," Emmett sighed.

"Father's out of the house at the moment," Emily said. "He got an emergency call from the Peabodys earlier today. Emmett's safe for now."

"Emergency call? Is your father a doctor?" Marty asked, interested.

"Animal doctor," Emmett said with a slight grin. "One of the best Hill Valley's seen too, I have to admit. He met Mother while treating her sick cat. Unfortunately, he has a bit of a temper. I do my best to avoid him if he's in a bad mood."

"We all do," Emily nodded. "He throws things."

"Nice."

"He can be very nice when he wants to be," Lucy said. "He's always been a gentleman around me." She nudged Emmett. "Must be where this one gets it from." Emmett blushed happily. "And now I should go. I'm probably going to be late as it is."

"You can't be late," Emmett teased. "They can't start the recital without you."

"True," Lucy grinned. "I'll see you tomorrow -- hopefully without all these distractions." She glared at Marty, Emily, and Holly before smiling at Emmett again.

"I'll count the hours," Emmett said sweetly, kissing her. Lucy took the kiss, but made little effort to return it. Emily, Holly, and Marty all shared a look. "Goodbye and good luck."

"Thank you. Goodbye all." With a little wave, she jogged lightly down the path and up the block.

Emmett watched her depart with a grin. "She's so great. I'm so lucky to have her." He turned to Marty. "Ready to get started?"

"He really should meet Mother first," Emily said, going to the door. "She'll be pleased you found a friend." She pushed the door open. "Mother?"

"Yes Emily?" a voice called.

"Mother, we have a guest. Come in, Marty."

Marty followed Emily inside, trailed by Emmett and Holly. The Brown mansion looked much the same as it had in 1955. Marty felt himself relax a little. It felt good to be in familiar surroundings, even if he technically wasn't supposed to be there.

A woman appeared in the main entrance hall, trailed by a black maid. She appeared to be in her mid to late 30s, with long blond hair done up in a ponytail and bright blue eyes. She smiled elegantly at Marty. "Hello. I'm Mrs. Sarah Brown."

"Hello, I'm Marty Jackson," Marty replied, nodding politely. "It's nice to meet you."

"He's Emmett's new friend," Emily beamed.

"I don't know about 'friend,'" Emmett said nervously. "I'm really only doing Marty a favor -- actually, what I'm doing is fixing a mistake. I'm repairing a device of his that got broken when we literally ran into each other. Is it all right if he stays over for a little while?"

"Of course!" Sarah said. "I'm glad you found someone to bring over. How long will you be staying, Mr. Jackson?"

"Not too long, I've got--"

"Sarah?"

The entire family gave a start. Sarah's smile lessened a little. "My husband," she explained, glancing at Marty. "I hope he approves you staying here. Elias is -- particular -- about the people he chooses to associate with."

Before Marty could ask what she meant by that, a man appeared in one of the side doorways, sighing heavily. He was covered in dirt and sweat, and was wearing long black gloves. His brown hair was just starting to go gray, and he had a matching beard and mustache. "What a day, Sarah," he complained, not looking at the teenagers. "Peabody's cow was having twin calves, and one of them was in breech of course -- we barely saved the mother. Some days -- oh, hello," he said, noticing Marty for the first time. "Who is this?"

Marty felt a bit intimidated. Elias's brown eyes were cold and demanding, nothing at all like his children's warm and friendly ones. "My name's Michael Jackson, sir," he said, straightening to his full if unimpressive height.

"He's one of Emmett's friends, Father," Emily said, fidgeting under her father's gaze. "Emmett's doing him a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"I'm fixing something of his," Emmett said in a small voice. Despite the fact that he had a good inch or two of height on his father, Emmett looked terrified of him.

"Oh. I'd recommend you run over to the shop in town instead, Mr. Jackson," Elias said. "Emmett can't fix anything without 'improving' it."

Marty didn't like Elias's tone of voice. He sounded almost ashamed of his son. "Well, sir, Emmett did offer, and he may be the best man for the job. I'm an inventor's assistant, you see, and--"

"Inventor! INVENTOR?" Elias turned a shocking shade of red as Marty stumbled back in shock. "God damn it, Sarah, do you see what's happened! Emmett invited him over in hopes of getting a job with one of those nuts!"

"Elias, watch your mouth!" Sarah yelled back. "There are ladies present!"

"You call her a lady?" Elias said, glaring at Holly like she was the scum of the earth.

"Father, don't make a scene," Emily pleaded, looking near tears. "Mr. Jackson was just saying--"

"Right now he's just saying he's an inventor's assistant. But soon enough he and Emmett will get together and blow the roof off of the house. Egged on by her, no doubt. Inventors and scientists are not to be trusted! They're evil and working to destroy the world! Along with bankers! And of course her kind."

Holly folded her arms. "I'm not trying--"

"Don't lie to me. Your kind are all the same. Consorting with demons, losing your soul. . . ." He turned and glared at Emily. "I warned you about being friends with her. At least you don't appear to have picked up any of her taint -- unlike Emmett. I don't know why I even let her in the house, she's probably infecting it with her evil right now."

Emily sniffled, her eyes welling up, but seemed too scared to say anything. Holly put an arm around her. "It's all right, Emily," she whispered. "I've heard it all before."

Marty stared at the scene, stunned. Holy shit, I'm understanding more and more why Doc never talks about his childhood. His father's a freaking lunatic! And I just know something bad is going to happen with Lucy. Shit.

"Elias, Holly is Emily and Emmett's friend," Sarah said severely. "That's why you let her into the house." She softened, glancing at Marty apologetically. "You're in a temper. Come into the kitchen and I'll make you a nice raspberry tart. You should be glad Emmett's found a new friend."

"A new friend like her," Elias mumbled, although looking somewhat appeased by the thought of a raspberry tart. "If I hear a job offer, so help me God I'll strangle him."

"I'm not here to offer him a job!" Marty said forcefully. "I'm here to get my stuff fixed! That's all!"

"His employer isn't even hiring," Emmett added. "Plus he isn't local. I'd prefer to work for someone in town."

"You won't be working for anyone like that at all," Elias said dangerously. Emmett wilted. "I won't allow it. You're going to become something sensible and forget this invention foolishness. And don't you try to convince him otherwise," he snapped, rounding on Emily and Holly. "Ever since the three of you got together, things have just gone downhill. And as for you--" he turned and glared at Marty. "I want you out of here by suppertime, understand?"

"Yes sir."

"He can stay for supper," Sarah said firmly. "Emmett deserves to have friends over."

"Fine, but after supper, out he goes." Elias gave them all one last glare, then brightened. "Now then, Sarah, how about that raspberry tart?" Sarah took his arm and led him to the kitchen, followed by the maid.