6:30 PM PST
'Hey, Marty,' called out Doc, 'I need to need go out and run some errands, now. How about helping Clara make dinner. Your son and Harmony should be back, soon.'
'Sure, that's no problem, Doc,' replied Marty. 'So set the table for eight?'
After doing a quick count in his head, Doc said, 'Yes, that's correct.'
Doc and Marty then embraced, before Doc headed out to leave.
Then Marty turned on the radio in the living room - and tuned it to KKHV, his favourite radio station. The station was currently playing Sign of the Gypsy Queen by April Wine. Then Marty started to set the table. Just then, the living room door flew open.
'We're home!' called out Harmony, as she walked in with Marty Jr and Jennifer.
'Dinner is almost ready,' Marty One told the other three teens.
'What is for dinner?' asked Harmony. 'It smells good.'
'It's stuffed shells with garlic bread,' explained Marty One. 'It's one of my favourites.'
'Sounds yummy,' remarked Harmony. 'Grandma always was such a good cook.'
'Uh, Dad,' stammered Marty Two, 'there is something that I need to tell you.'
'Please, just call me Marty One,' replied Marty One, laughing. 'So what happened? What do you need to tell me. It's not about my future, is it?'
'Oh, no, no, no! It's not that,' protested Marty Two. 'It's that, at the picnic, well, Billy seems to have the hots for Harmony.'
'Uh, Billy?' asked Marty. 'Billy from The Pinheads, you mean?'
'Yeah, that Billy,' replied Marty Two. 'What's worse is that Harmony seems to have the hots for him, too.'
'Marty!' protested Harmony, blushing - staring at the floor.
Both Martys turned to look at her.
'What's the big deal?' Harmony asked, defensively. 'It's not like I plan to marry him or anything. It's just a harmless fling.'
'Uh, well, look, Harmony,' stammered Marty One, 'you're only going to be here for a week. I understand that you want to stay longer, but you really can't - because that might heavily affect the choices that your dad makes in the future. He might never marry your mom, which means you might never be born, which means we might have a paradox on our hands. Anyway, Billy might expect you to write him after you leave - but of course you can't.'
'But, Marty,' protested Harmony, 'it's just a little fling. I wasn't planning on getting serious with him.'
'Look, Harmony,' Marty One insisted, gently, putting his hand on her shoulder, 'I just don't want either you or Billy to get emotionally hurt. Love can be very unpredictable, and it's really not something that you should mess around with. I'm not trying to be mean or anything. It's just that Billy, uh, well, he doesn't know about time travel - so we'd have a hell of a time trying to explain to him why you can't even write him. Know what I mean?'
'Yeah, I guess I understand,' said Harmony, with a sigh. 'It's just that I don't want to hurt him. He's a sweet and kind person - just like you are, Marty. I don't take rejection very well - so I'm not very good at giving out rejection, either. I don't like hurting anyone.'
'I understand how you feel, Harmony,' Marty One said, gently. 'The only problem is, you would hurt him even more if you flirted with him for a whole week - and then he never heard from you, again. He would feel as if he was being used. Of course, you can be friends with him - but maybe try telling him that you won't be staying, and it's better to date someone who lives closer to you.'
'You're right, Marty,' Harmony said, sighing. 'Do you know if he'll be at the pool party tomorrow?'
'Yeah, I believe so,' replied Marty One. 'Our whole band was invited to the party.'
'I'll tell him tomorrow that it won't work out,' said Harmony.
Marty One and Harmony then embraced.
'Oh, there is one other thing,' Marty Two said. 'Your bandmates from The Pinheads were wanting to know when you guys should practice next. I just told them that I wasn't sure, because I wanted to spend the week with my cousin.'
'Oh, yeah, thanks for the heads-up,' replied Marty One.
Then the two Martys embraced.
oooooooooo
Later on that night, Marty was lying on his bed, listening to the radio, when the phone rang.
'Yo,' said Marty, as he answered the phone.
'Marty, is that you?' asked a volice on the other hand. 'It's Billy.'
'Yeah, it's me,' replied Marty. 'So, buddy, what's up?'
'I just wanted to call and apologize for what happened this afternoon,' explained Billy. 'It seemed like you were kinda mad at me for dating your cousin. Marty, I really didn't think that would upset you so much.'
'Oh, well, look, Billy,' Marty said, gently, 'I'm not mad at you or anything. It's just that, uh, well, Harmony will only be here for a week - then she has to go back home to San Francisco.'
'So?' asked Billy, confused. 'We can write each other, and talk on the phone occassionally.'
Marty took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say to his friend. 'Wouldn't you, uh, be happier dating someone who lives closer to Hill Valley? Someone who you can see in person on a regular basis - and go to the movies with?'
'Distance shouldn't matter when it comes to true love,' protested Billy.
Marty sighed. He couldn't exactly argue with that logic. After all, Doc had met and fell in love with Clara - even though they were separated by a century. Still, the circumstances of this were slightly different.
'Well, I'm not saying that you can't date Harmony,' Marty said, gently. 'I was just saying that it might not be a good idea. It's your choice, though.'
'I understand that you mean well, Marty,' said Billy, 'but I'll be okay. I'm a bit tired, so I'd better get to bed.'
'Yeah, I'm about to hit the sack, myself,' replied Marty. 'G'night, buddy!'
'G'night, Marty,' replied Billy, as he hung up the phone.
I just hope that both Billy and Harmony put some thought into what I told them, thought Marty - and he turned off his radio and hopped into bed.