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“You’re like the toughest person I know! Am I really supposed to believe that a horror film is enough to have you nearly cowering in my lap?”
“Are we… in America?”
Jane rubs a circle on the back of Lizzy’s hand. “Yes darling, remember you asked to come here?”
“Oh yes!” Elizabeth laughs and leans into Jane’s side. “I’m soo forgetful. I’m lucky I have you to remind me.”
Jane smiles and walks over to the nearest building. It’s tall and made of stone, much more modern — as the two of them have come to notice as they leapt through time, styles change — and has dozens of “graffiti” paintings along the sides. There’s rainbows and faces in profile and fists held up in solidarity. There’s samesex couples and beautiful, powerful women. Smiling, she places a hand on the drawings, wishing she could bring herself closer. Connect herself to the pigment. Become something small and fleeting and oh so very influential.
Graffiti is one of her favorite things of the future.
“Lizzy, what did you want to see over here in America? Did we go to the right time?”
Elizabeth spins around, looking at the little kids running past them. They’re all dressed as ghosts, or superheros, or “princesses,” and seem to be racing around to the steps of houses and knocking on the doors.
“Trick or treat”
“Trick or treat”
“Trick or treat”
The cacophony of kids' voices all around them creat an out-of-tune chorus.
Odd .
“ Yes ! I was reading — because I learned how to read, remember?”
“Yes, dear, I helped you learn…” Jane places her hand on Lizzy’s shoulder, wiping away a droplet of blood (the devices of the future that allowed her to do this really were astounding !).
“— I was reading about this holiday and how it’s celebrated in the future. All Hallows Eve, I think it’s called !” Lizzy looks around at all the kids. “Yes. This is exactly the way the book described it as happening.”
“A bunch of little kids dressing up and begging for… What are they even asking for?” Jane walks up to one of the kids. She used to be really good with young people, but it’s been a while since she’s actually had to care for one, and even then, that was before she got into the whole murdering business. She may have lost her touch.
Jane glances back at her darling Lizzy — who is sniffing a flower very, very intently — and realizes that she probably is their best bet at getting answers for this whack future holiday.
She notices a slightly older kid, probably 11 or 12, loitering by a street lamp. They are dressed in a large mascot costume with the words San Dimas printed across its chest. “Hey, kiddo…” She starts to approach the boy.
He jumps, fumbling his basket (pumpkin shaped), catching it right before it dumps everywhere.
“Oh I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you!” Jane walks forward a couple steps, arms up in surrender, hoping to calm the boy's nerves. “I just have a question to ask you — I won’t hurt you, I promise!”
The boy frantically looks down the streets. “My sister should be here soon… Uhm, what’s your question, miss?”
Jane weighs her options. Does she want to risk the chance of this boy ridiculing her, or does she risk it to potentially learn about the time period…?
“You see that girl over there —” Jane points at Lizzy “— that’s my girlfriend.” She pauses, gaging the kids reaction to queer people. His gaze doesn’t falter, and she breathes a sigh of relief. “She and I aren’t from here. What are you guys all doing?”
The kid looks adoringly at Elizabeth, now stomping in the puddles, looking ethereal and gorgeous. God, she loved her girlfriend .
“She’s very pretty!” The boy turns around and gestures to all the kids racing around to ring doorbells. “It’s Halloween. We’re all going ‘trick or treating’. It’s something younger kids do — we get candy!” He grins and shoves his hand in his basket, pulling out a Reeses. “Here, you can have it!” He places the candy in her hand.
“Thank you so much, little boy! Enjoy your- uhm. Hallow-ween !”
The boy smiles at Jane again, then notices an older girl on the other side of the street and sprints to her. He’s already ad-libbing and waving his arms as he retells the story to his sister.
“Lizzy, have you ever thought about having kids?”
Elizabeth walks up to her, eyes blinking sheepishly. “Not since meeting you. Would you like some?”
Jane giggles and she leans over and kisses her gorgeous girlfriend — soon to be wife. “Not if you don’t.” She hands her the Reeses.
Lizzy opens it and shoves it into her mouth. “Let’s go watch a movie.”
- • •
Keeping a stash of American money was one the smartest habits they ever started since they began time traveling.
They didn’t buy stuff often , usually prepared enough they could go anywhere whenever. But, at times like these when they wanted to see a movie, or they wanted icecream, or a nice meal — having a good stack of different nations' currencies was obnoxiously useful.
Movie theaters have never been Lizzy’s or Jane’s favorite things — everything is so loud , people are incredibly rude, and if they can potentially watch the movie at home why do it in public — but they want to watch a movie, and they don’t exactly have a home in America to crash in.
Jane leans on Lizzy's side, hand intertwined with hers. Elizabeth is munching on the popcorn as the trailers play on.
“What movie did you pick, sweetie?”
“ Ahh , I… Do not remember. There were so many posters flashing up there! It looked spooky , though — it fits the vibe.” Lizzy giggles.
Jane smiles and sighs, squeezing her hand. “Well I’m excited. You had a good idea.”
Lizzy leans over and gives her a kiss, quickly parting as she hears the actual movie begin to play and sees the lights start to dim.
- • •
Jane trembles and shuffles closer to Lizzy.
She’s not quite sure she likes horror so much-
BAM!
Jane flinches and covers her eyes, leaning even closer into her girlfriend until their entire sides are pushed into each other together and her face is tucked into Lizzy’s shoulder.
Elizabeth places her hand on the small of Jane’s back, holding her close, eyes still transfixed on the screen. Jane begins to relax, her eyes closing. Maybe she can sleep through the rest of it…
BAM!
Nope , sleeping was out of the question. Jane’s nails, though not very long or sharp (it’s hard to get blood out from underneath long nails) dig into Lizzy’s skin.
Gently, Lizzy removes her hand from Jane’s grip and gently rubs her fingers over the top of her palm.
Jane folds into the embrace.
Lizzy glances at her balled up position before whispering, “You’re like the toughest person I know! Am I really supposed to believe that a horror film is enough to have you nearly cowering in my lap?” She chuckles softly.
“Oh, be quiet… Shooting men is much different than- ” Her eyes catch on the scene displayed in front of them and she turns away, holding back a gag.
Lizzy gets a mischievous grin on her face. “Would you like to leave ?”
Jane doesn’t look up, “No, no! You’re enjoying this — we can stay.”
Lizzy runs her hand down Jane’s arm, her waist, before lingering at her knee. “ Or we can go home and have some fun…”
Jane feels her face go bright pink. “ Oh . Alright then. Let’s go!”
Elizabeth stands up and holds her arm out for Jane (still trying to avoid looking at the screen). They walk out arm in arm.