The Perfect Gift

Chapter 4

AN: Yeah I know this chapter is out kind of early, but I'm bored and I felt like updating, lol. I'm supposed to be working on my "Peter Pan" story, but I have awful writer's block right now. It sucks. Anyway, to make up for it, I hope you all enjoy this amazingly fast update. And now for the shout outs.

bttf4444: Thank you, I'm glad you think so! Yeah, I like the idea of them meeting outside of school, I don't know why. It seemed right. Also, it goes with my plot point, haha. Well, Jennifer's not all bad, just kind of sarcastic and…You'll see what I mean when you read this chapter. All I can honestly say about your work, and I know you've heard it over and over, is to not make them so much like the movies, "Marty's Twin" in particular. That's all I ever see out of most "Back to the Future" writers, at least the ones I've come across. Think outside the box, or heck, try and write an original piece of fiction and replace the names, lol. All I know, is it just gets really boring when someone practically copies and pastes any of the movies. You haven't, thank God, but I've seen a couple people do that and it horrifies me…Plus their grammar is AWFUL! Anyway, like I said, I would be more than willing to help, but I'm just trying to get through finishing most of my own stories, haha. Thanks for the review!

Flaming Trails: Yay for my awesome idea! I don't know if you've noticed, but I joined the backtothefanfic community at Live Journal, yay! I'm excited to write the August challenge, I haven't started yet, but I will soon enough. Anyway, thanks for the review :)

LegallyRed: Yay, a review from you! Stupid not letting you review chapter 2. I know, I am the bestest aren't I? Haha. Love you, girly, and think of me when your sitting in class, bored out of your mind, because I'll be thinking of you! Only…I won't be in a classroom, I'll be at home. Anyway, thanks for the review. Think of me fondly!

Anyway, now that those are done, please continue on with chapter 4. Although, chapter 5 will be the last chapter ever. I know, it's sad, but I'm grateful for you! Enjoy this chapter and reviews are like ice cream. Yummy and…yummy :)

The next morning was bright and clear, December 6th. Marty awoke to an annoying buzzing in his ear, and he promptly smacked it away. He turned over, opened his eyes, and saw Jennifer, still asleep. He smiled, thinking about his dream. It was how he and Jennifer first met. It was always an odd story to tell, two fifteen-year-olds meeting in a club, but the listeners always sighed and smiled nonetheless. Although Marty knew Rick would never think twice about it, he was still glad that Rick and Jennifer's past was put behind them and were now the best of friends. Mrs. Parker was still one of the coolest moms ever, and now Marty understood why his future daughter was named Marlene.

He struggled out of bed, trying to avoid waking Jennifer. He tiptoed to the door, picking up his guitar as he went, and exited as quietly as possible. The living room was empty, as the other guys were fast asleep in their own room. Marty swayed where he stood, so he looked out the nearest window to find the countryside flashing by in a white haze.

'I wonder if we're almost to Utah,' he thought. They had been driving all night so he figured they should be close.

He picked out a spot on the vacant couch that faced the window. With the guitar in his lap, he began to absently pick at a few chords while staring out the window. He began brainstorming about what he could possibly give Jennifer for their anniversary. He couldn't exactly go out and buy something, the paparazzi and insane fans would mob him. If he ordered something from a catalogue he wouldn't get it in time. Besides, it wasn't like he had a permanent address at the moment.

His fingers expertly plucked away at the guitar, and he played a few notes from "Punk Rock Blues". As he jammed, memories flooded his vision.

Himself, Rick, J.J. and Spydo at eighteen behind another club in town, each holding some form of liquor in their hand.

Marty laughed at the memory. After seeing his mom drink in 1955, he thought he would never touch alcohol. Curiosity had gotten the better of him, thoughand he asked if he could try one. Needless to say he will never drink again.

It had only been a few months after Marty and Jennifer met. They began hanging out more and more, learning new and surprising things about one another. He got the feeling, though, that her friends didn't like him. He didn't know why, he'd never done anything to them. When he said something to either of them, they'd be really short with him and sometimes ignore him. Jennifer didn't know why they were acting that way, and she apologized for everything they'd done. Marty only smiled, saying it didn't bother him what they thought, and adding (with cheeks burning) that it only mattered what she thought.

That was the day when Marty realized how much he liked her. Jennifer's friends eventually warmed up to him after that and had started to talk to him more.

"Marty!" Jennifer called to him in the bustling hallway. He turned away from J.J. and saw her running toward him. He smiled instantly when he saw her, his stomach twisting in knots. As she got closer, his smile faded when he noticed that her eyes were red and tears were streaming down her cheeks. Something wasn't right.

"Jen, what is it? What's wrong?" he asked in concern when she caught up to him. She couldn't contain her crying so Marty put an arm around her, told J.J. to go on to class without him, and led her outside to the front of the building. As soon as they sat on the steps, the bell rang for class to start. Marty didn't care if he was late, it was nothing new.

Jennifer continued to cry and he tried to console her by rubbing a hand soothingly across her back. When the tears finally ceased she sniffed pitifully and turned to him.

"Oh God, Marty, I'm sorry. I feel like such a fool." she said.

"No! It's fine, why don't you tell me what's wrong. Is it your family?"

"No, everything's fine at home," she sniffed again. "Marty, I'm getting expelled."

"What?" he nearly shouted.

"I haven't been passing any of my classes since October, and it's already February."

"Well, can't you do anything? School isn't over yet and I bet you can pull your grades up in time for June." Marty encouraged. He would do anything he could to keep Jennifer in school. He hadn't told her how he felt yet, he wasn't ready. But he still wanted her around. He fell more in love with her everyday. Sure he was only fifteen, soon to be sixteen, and still a kid, but Marty believed in love at first sight and that it didn't matter how old you were. Love happened at any age.

Jennifer shook her head. "Probably not. It's not just grades it's…Well, let's just say I'm not on Strickland's Favourite Students list."

Marty laughed. "Who is?"

This made her grin. "Before I met you, Marty, I was…different. I had some attitude problems, I would talk back to teachers, occasionally go for a smoke in the bathroom, graffiti the dumpsters, skip school…you name it I did it."

"And now?"

"I know this is going to sound really stupid and horribly cliched, but since I met you I stopped doing all of those things. You've changed me somehow, changed me for the better," she smiled at him and took him in for a tight hug. He blinked but soon hugged her back, his arms wrapping around her waist. He discreetly inhaled her perfume. Boy, did she smell nice. "Thank you, Marty." she whispered.

"You're welcome, Jen." he whispered back. They broke away and the next thing he knew, she picked up his hands and entwined them with hers.

Jennifer could never explain how he changed her. Marty never noticed the difference, but that moment in front of the school, while staring into her eyes, he knew how far he fell. It was a feeling he'd never experienced with any other girl.

An idea hit him them, on the couch, and he got up to get his notebook from the table. He kept all of his song ideas in there and he treasured it more than his Atari set. When he opened it, two pictures fell out. He picked them up and laughed at the first one. It was his and Jennifer's senior prom picture. This was taken in May, just seven months after his adventures with Doc and the notorious DeLorean, so he was still seventeen. The theme that year was "Viva Las Vegas" and so they were standing in front of a backdrop with a beautiful picture of the Las Vegas strip at sunset. Jennifer was so gorgeous that night. After prom, Marty stayed a few minutes at her house to indulge her parents in the night's events. When he mentioned the theme, he put an arm around Jennifer and jokingly told them that they were going to move to Vegas after high school. Marty never forgot Mrs. Parker's look. If looks could kill…Of course, he and Jennifer quickly took back the joke, saying they would never consider Las Vegas.

The second picture was a black and white one of Jennifer that Linda discreetly captured at a picnic in the park. She was sitting against a tree, reading, while the sunrays cut through the leaves and illuminated her skin perfectly. It was so simple yet easily his favourite picture of her. This was when they were sixteen and had just started dating. He tacked this photo to his bedroom wall as soon as he got it and it remained in the same place until he moved out. He never bothered to frame it because he carried it everywhere.

With these memories recovered, inspiration swarmed his mind and his fingers itched for a pen to begin writing lyrics. He now knew what he could give Jennifer.

AN: Any ideas what it might be? (sarcasm) I think it's pretty obvious, lol. This wasn't very long but that's all right, you guys don't mind. Like I said, reviews are like ice cream. Yummy and yummy, they make me feel good inside :) See you all in chapter 5!

DreamlessMermaid