Waking by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry

she’d heard right. Her stomach dipped into a full-fledged ballet routine complete with costumes.
    â€œBeauty?” he asked nervously. Her eyes snapped back to his. He was close enough that his breath was warm on her cheek. His mouth was inches from hers as he waited for her to answer. Dream images flashed before her eyes, the way he held his head, the flickering of the candles. It was exactly as she’d dreamt. Even down to the feel of the hardwood floor under her and his hand on her knee.
    She closed the distance between them and brushed her mouth against his. She felt him smile against her lips and his hand ran up her arm and tangled into her hair at the nape of her neck. He smelled like soap and leaves, like a jungle.
    She was a candle, a torch, a flame.

10
    Beauty met luna’s eyes
    in the mirror of the school washroom on the second floor.
    â€œI don’t know about this,” Beauty said. “Ever heard of baby steps?”
    Luna applied another coat of glitter lip gloss and shook her head. “I firmly believe in jumping into the deep end. You learn to swim faster.”
    Beauty snorted. “Or you drown.”
    Sabrina, perched on the counter, swinging her feet, laughed. “You look great,” she said. “Weird, but great.”
    Beauty rolled her eyes. “Gee, thanks.”
    Sabrina rolled her eyes right back, grinning.
    Beauty smoothed her hands over the dress she’d been convinced, or bullied rather, to wear. It was pale with long layers and cinched tightly at the waist. She wore several long strands of jet beads, and her red hair was wrapped into a messy bun. Luna stood next to her, in a similar dress of pale yellow. She wore a cameo at her throat and a large hat.
    â€œWe are going to be laughed at,” Beauty groaned. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into this.”
    â€œAre you kidding?” Luna winked. “After you and Poe last night, I could do no wrong.”
    Beauty blushed slightly.
    Sabrina shook her head at Luna. “What have you done to our quiet little Beauty?”
    They grinned at each other until Beauty poked them both in the arm. “Could we focus on my panicking, please? I still don’t know about this,” she swallowed audibly. “Poe’s in that class. What if he laughs at me?”
    Luna rolled her eyes. “He would never. Besides, he’s gaga over you.”
    â€œGaga?”
    She nodded firmly. “That’s what I said. Gaga. It’s a technical term.”
    Beauty laughed and Luna linked her arm through hers. “Now come on, let’s go conquer English class. Kingsley will be wowed to his toes and give us As on the spot.”
    Luna didn’t seem to notice the other students staring at them as they hurried down the hall to class. Beauty tried not to squirm. Regardless of what had happened, being gawked at was still not one of her favorite things. She nearly hid behind a door when they passed Clare.
    Clare snickered. “Nice outfits.”
    Luna rushed right past her without a single glance. Clare stared after them, slightly put off.
    â€œThat girl is way too high-maintenance,” Luna muttered as they ducked into the classroom. “She needs to do yoga or something.”
    â€œHere goes nothing,” Beauty muttered back as the class fell silent, looking at them with widening eyes. Somebody whistled. Mr. Kingsley glanced up.
    â€œGirls,” he said with a questioning smile. “I guess you’re ready for your presentation.”
    Luna curtsied. Beauty just swallowed.
    â€œThis is Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal,” Luna introduced Beauty with a flourish before handing out copies of their journal entitled “The Seed.” When Beauty spoke, she tried not to rush her words.
    â€œI was an artist’s model for several of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, such as John Millais, Willian Holman-Hunt and Dante Rossetti, who encouraged my painting and later became my