“How?” Marty demanded, sotto voce.
“I don’t know. Fake it.”
Bringing about a meaningful introduction being the purpose of his visit, Marty sallied forth. “George here is a terrific guy,” he stammered. “Really great…He’s smart…and a good athlete…”
“No—” George interjected.
“He’s got a great sense of humor, too.”
“No—” George repeated.
Marty might as well have been talking to Lorraine in Sanskrit or Choctaw.
Her eyes never moved from his during the entire eulogy.
“Marty,” she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. “I was so worried about you running off like that the other night with that bruise on your head. Is it better now? It looked so sore…” She reached out to touch his forehead.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Marty nodded.
“It could use something to take down the swelling,” Lorraine suggested. “I’m sure we have something at home in the medicine closet.”
“Uh…I believe in letting things get well by themselves,” Marty replied. “That way, your body builds up certain types of immunities…”
“You’re so smart,” she smiled.
“Yeah. But George here—”
The bell rang.
“George here is even smarter than—” Marty continued.
“Never mind,” he heard Doc Brown whisper.
Marty looked around. George McFly was nowhere to be seen.
“Where is he?” Marty asked Doc.
“He went thataway.”
“Why didn’t you stop him?”
“What did you expect me to do, tackle the guy? Anyway, he did it kind of sneaky-like…Just sort of sidled a few steps away and then bolted.”
“Damn,” Marty murmured.
Lorraine was still smiling at him, obviously perfectly content to stare at him during the brief interruption.
The bell rang again, snapping her out of her romantic trance.
“I’m late,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah…” Marty said.
As she turned away, her girlfriend, who had been waiting patiently to one side, joined her.
“Isn’t he a dreamboat?” Lorraine rhapsodized. “I’ll tell you a secret. I’m gonna marry him.”
? Chapter Nine ?