Timeless *REWRITTEN* (Beetlejuice x Reader)

Chapter 4

I stepped out of the middle of the walkway under the awning to what looked to be an apothecary of some sort. I dug into my satchel and pulled the piece of paper I had written my aunt's address on out from under my folded dress. Dantae had told me to keep the mens' clothes, as, according to him, it would be easier for me to travel through the city if others thought I was a man. 

Even though I had memorized the address by heart, I clutched the paper in my hands, almost willing it to give me directions. At this point, it seemed to be a sort of comfort to me, just to hold it close to me. I guess having a physical thing like this helped prove to my subconscious doubt that this was real. I was really doing this. 

Up to that point, I hadn't really considered that I didn't know how in the world I was supposed to find this address on my own. This was a foreign land, and I didn't have the faintest clue where to even begin searching. I looked around me, panic grasping at my insides and my head beginning to swim. I scratched the top of my forehead under my cap, pushing it back down quickly to avoid any loose hair tumbling out. I sat on a nearby bench, looking down at the address forlornly. 

"Hey, you. Ya lost or somethin'?" 

I was startled out of my thoughts by a voice, and when I looked up, a woman I had never seen before stood in front of me. She had chin-length, blonde hair intricately fixed in tight waves under her cap, which was not entirely unlike the one I sported on my own head. She wore a knee-length dress that was a light shade of salmon and a knit shawl. The heels on her feet were unlike any that I had worn back at home. And though she wore a dress, she also had what appeared to be a type of mesh covering her legs. I would later learn they were called "panty hoes". When my eyes met her blue ones, something shifted in her countenance. 

"Now, what're you wearin' a man's clothes for?" 

I sucked in a breath involuntarily, fear striking my heart that she had so easily seen through my disguise. 

"I- How did you know?" 

She scoffed, waving her hand at me. "Please, doll. You may be wearin' slacks and suspenders, but your face don't lie." 

I stood nervously. "I just... thought it would be easier..." I trailed off, not really knowing what to tell her. 

She gave me a small, knowing smile. "It is, sweetheart, believe me. Now then, where ya from? Certainly not from around here." 

I found myself becoming less and less anxious as she asked me about myself, detecting no suspicious or hostility in her tone or body language. "Italy," I told her. 

She blinked at me. "Oh wow! Didn't think many were gettin' out of there," she replied, taking what appeared to be a mini cigar out of a pack and lighting it with a match. She took a drag on it and blew out a puff of smoke. My nose wrinkled as I fought the urge to cough. It didn't smell anything like the smoke that came from the cigars my father would buy. "So, honey, what brings ya to the Big Apple?" 

I didn't question the expression, assuming she was referring to New York. "I was to be married against my will. I wanted a life for myself." 

She looked at me, nodding. "Well, that's certainly admirable." She noticed the paper in my hands and gestured to it. "Whatcha got, there?" 

"Oh, it's the address of my aunt and uncle. They left the country right before Mussolini came into power. I'm hoping they still live there." 

I offered the paper out to her and she took it, examining it. "Well would you look at that! Your auntie's got some dough; this is a swanky neighborhood." 

I looked at her. "You know where this is?" I asked hopefully. 

She nodded. "Oh sure. Lots of my best tippers live over there."