Waking by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry Page A

husband.”
    Someone giggled. Sabrina aimed a glare at them. The class stared at Beauty and Luna, awed, nervous and interested despite themselves. Beauty wiped her palms on her borrowed dress. She refused to look at Poe.
    â€œI was very ill, but I had an exhibition of my work in 1857 . I painted Lady Clare and Lady Affixing A Pennant To A Knight’s Spear . I also helped with the decoration of William Morris’s Red House. I loved to paint, but history would rather remember me as a silent artist’s model and a muse who died young. You won’t find me in a traditional textbook.”
    She stepped back, blushing, when she was done. Luna threw a grin over her shoulder and then turned to face the class. “I am Christina Rossetti,” she said.
    Unlike Beauty, Luna sounded confident, her pace slow and unhurried. Only Beauty saw the slight tremble in her fingers. It made her feel better somehow, less alone. “I was born in 1830 into a very artistic family,” continued Luna. “I have two brothers, William and Dante Rossetti. Poetry is my art and I wrote several verses for the prb journal The Germ . I also wrote ‘The Goblin Market.’”
    As Luna read passages from “The Goblin Market,” Beauty picked up a piece of chalk and began to sketch on the blackboard. She brought the poem to life, drawing simple images of pomegranates, a goblin man with a basket, and two women holding hands. She could feel Poe’s eyes on her back, and when she glanced over her shoulder, he grinned at her. It was the first she’d seen of him since their kiss in Star’s studio. She wondered if he’d told his friends.
    Luna continued to read from John Keats’ “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” and Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott.”
    When they were finished, they curtsied briefly again. Mr. Kingsley nodded, unfolding himself from his chair.
    â€œVery interesting, girls. Very original.”
    Luna gave Beauty a knowing look. The bell rang. The classroom erupted into a cacophony of noise as twenty-odd students rushed the door at the same time. The hallway was already shaking with the pounding of footsteps. Luna drew Beauty into a corner and squealed. “We were amazing!” She poked Beauty. “Admit it, you loved it.”
    Beauty tilted her head, tried not to grin. “We did okay.”
    Luna rolled her eyes. “Give me a break.”
    â€œOkay, okay, we were wonderful, divine. They will talk about us in these halls long after we’re dead.”
    â€œMuch better,” Luna approved.
    â€œBut this dress is really uncomfortable.”
    Luna laughed. “I know.”
    â€œHey, Luna,” Paul sneered as he passed them. “You guys were really lame.”
    Beauty’s face fell. She refused to turn around and let him see it. Luna glared at him over Beauty’s shoulder.
    â€œGo away,” she said simply. She lowered her voice and whispered to Beauty. “I went out with him too. Apparently he thought he was going to get lucky.”
    Beauty sighed. “He’s famous for it. Or thinks he is, anyway.”
    Paul kept sneering. “Why don’t you and your freak mother go back to where you came from?”
    Beauty tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned around very slowly. “Now who’s lame?” she asked lightly. She was not smiling. She was tired to death of the Clares and the Pauls of Briar High. She’d let them intimidate her for too long. Paul just stared at her. “Just because Luna has taste and you didn’t get any is no reason to be a jerk. Get a grip on yourself,” said Beauty. One of Paul’s friends laughed. Paul’s nostrils flared. Beauty just stared him down and then waved her hands. “Shoo.”
    Luna waited until they were out of earshot before she burst into laughter. Sabrina emerged from the classroom behind them, clapping loudly. Beauty curtsied.
    Beauty was smiling