The Ice Cold Elephants.

They were an alt-pop group of four members formed in 2007 and still going strong. Shelby's favorite song was Love Hate, and Magenta knew it well. Shelby sang the song every so often until Magenta knew the song by heart too.

This kinda love hate

I can't erase

and I don't think

I want to cos'

you're the only one for me

Magenta woke up feeling so excited because her plan was coming to fruition that day. She hummed the tune of Love Hate as she got ready for the school day. In Biology, Magenta could hardly handle herself as the first gift arrived for Shelby. In a brown and rather flat package, Shelby's eyes widened when the courier service gave her the gift.

"For me?" She looked around as if expecting to see the person who'd given her the gift.

Magenta pretended to be disinterested, asking Shelby, "Oh, what is it?"

Shelby told Magenta, "I'll open it during lunch!"

There was a huge smile on Shelby's face and Magenta gave herself a mental pat on the back.

Around the same time, Shelby found some love notes in her locker. She gushed about them to Magenta.

"They're so romantic..."

As Shelby showed Magenta, Magenta recognized the handwriting immediately. Her eyebrows furrowed and she opened her mouth to identify the person who'd written them when Shelby started opening the brown package.

Magenta shut her mouth, and grinned when Shelby exclaimed, "Ah! How did they know I wanted this? It's purple too! My favorite color!"

Shelby held the exclusively released foldable purple water bottle edition, signed by the Ice Cold Elephants. She squeezed it tightly to her chest, looking to the ceiling as if thanking the Lord.

As Magenta munched on her sandwich, she accidentally choked a bit and coughed, looking to the side. The smile on Magenta's face widened an inch before returning to a flat-lipped expression.

Shelby nudged Magenta.

"Was it you, Mag?" She guessed.

Magenta diverted Shelby's attention.

"Oh look, a dude is coming our way!" Magenta pointed.

Shelby's rounded eyes got impossibly wider, and she received a cup of premium caramel latte from downtown.

"For you, madam. Happy birthday, cheers. From all of us at Starbrew!" The dude even bowed before he left and Shelby laughed in delight.

"Wow! Thank you," She took the Starbrew card.

"Mag, now I can finally get that caramel latte I've been craving!" Shelby said, her cheeks blooming with a cherry blossom pink.

Before the end of school, Magenta slipped out to the 'toilet' when she met Jasper by the toilets.

"So, did you get the note?" Magenta asked.

"Yeah, tonight at seven by the yellow fountain right?" Jasper checked with Magenta.

"Yep, wear something nice but not too nice okay? Like, black trousers and a white collared shirt is fine," Magenta elaborated.

"I always wear something nice," Jasper said, showing off his 'fashion'.

Jasper was a plainclothes monochrome kind of guy. So wearing what Magenta requested was no big deal for him. He worried he would be underdressed. Magenta worried she'd be overdressed, she had a habit of going overboard when she was excited.

"Whoa, did you do that?" Jasper said, noticing Magenta's sleeves.

"Oh, this old thing? Yeah, it's cool right?" Magenta said.

Jasper agreed. Jasper's uniform was generally neat and matched school rules. Magenta liked pulling her skirts a bit higher than knee length and adjusting certain parts like cutting geometric shapes on the edges of her shirt sleeves under her school jacket.

"Hey, I can bring flowers, right?" Jasper asked.

"Yep, even better if you do." Magenta fist bumped Jasper and they ended their secret meeting as the bell rang.

In their free period, Shelby got an elephant plushie delivered to her desk. The elephant was about the length of an encyclopedia, with cute tusks included with a squishy gray body.

"Omigosh, it's so fluffy!" Shelby hugged the elephant plushie to her chest.

There was a yellow note taped to the elephant on the back, and Magenta read it aloud.

"It says to come to the yellow water fountain tonight in front of the auditorium at seven pm after homework time."

"This is so incredible," Shelby said.

"Like a Sherlock Holmes thing," Magenta mused.

"Oh yeah! I love these kinds of mystery surprises!" Shelby said, hugging Magenta in happiness.

"Do you think it's Jasper though," Shelby whispered to Magenta as they went back to their dorm to drop their bags off.

"Oo could be!" Magenta said.

She was proud of herself for being able to conceal the secret for this long. Magenta was usually not very good at keeping surprises away from the receiver. Especially if the receiver was her best friend.

"I love him so much. His hugs, his presence, his kisses-" Shelby floated into cloud nine, her features softening as she sighed.

Magenta made a yucky face and she said, "Girl, I don't need to know all that."

"Just kidding, tell me every detail," Magenta and Shelby both smirked as Magenta spoke again.

"Will you wear something special for tonight then?" Magenta asked.

"Yes! Can you help me get ready?" Shelby enlisted Magenta's help.

"No," Magenta joked before nodding her head and grabbing Shelby's hand.

"Of course, I will. It would be my honor, bestie." Magenta twirled Shelby around.

     _

Shelby couldn't decide between a white-gold dress and a deep blue dress.

"I think the white-gold matches with your heels, and it makes your eyes pop too." Magenta gave her advice.

"Oh, but the back and low front cutting of the blue dress is so beautiful," Shelby bit her lip.

"You ain't trying to seduce him tonight right!" Magenta said.

"Or am I?" Shelby played the devil's advocate and Magenta flicked her forehead.

"No, at least wait until I'm gone," Magenta said.

Shelby agreed with the white-gold dress comment and settled on that one. It was a long flowy dress with pale pink flowers lined with gold embroidered near the straps that made Shelby look like a flower goddess. She wore a set of transparent heels with some gold glitter adorning the sides.

Magenta went for a dress too, but more simple and elegant. A white, shorter knee-length dress with slight gold rings around the neck and golden border detailing around the bottom of the dress. She couldn't be bothered to find shoes from her closet so she just borrowed plain white flats from a dorm girl who had the same shoe size.

"Stay still," Magenta swatted Shelby's hand away as she helped her curl the ringlets and as she helped her put makeup on.

"But," Shelby pouted.

"No, you can see when I'm done," Magenta said.

"Woah! Magenta the beauty guru!" Shelby admired herself in the mirror when Magenta finished styling her.

"I love this!" Shelby reached for Magenta to hug her.

Magenta, being resourceful, had somehow found a gold glittery eyeshadow. She put black eyeliner on Shelby's eyes and applied some lip gloss.

"Strawberry flavored," Magenta winked as Shelby slapped her arm.

"Seriously!" Jasper's favorite fruit was strawberry.

Magenta stepped back to dodge the hug and said, "No, you'll ruin your makeup!"

Shelby nodded and said, "Oh yeah I forgot."

Magenta led Shelby to the water fountain, covering her eyes.

"Why do you have to cover my eyes? Is a minotaur appearing?" Shelby asked random questions about her nervousness.

Magenta shushed Shelby, and she made eye contact with Blue and Jasper standing outside the auditorium. They gave a thumbs up and Magenta let go of Shelby. It was time to finally reveal the secret, and when Shelby saw what it was, she cried.

There, in front of her stood Jasper with a bouquet of roses. And behind him in the auditorium, her favorite band the Ice Cold Elephants!

"Oh my god!" Shelby fanned herself, restraining herself from running up to the band members.

The lead singer Mike said, "Happy birthday Shelby! I'm Mike Day from the Ice Cold Elephants. Thanks for having us celebrate with you. This one's for you!"

They were doing a quick sound check again before resuming to play. They were going to sing happy birthday to Shelby too. People filed into the auditorium as they saw the band performing.

Shelby grabbed onto Magenta and Jasper's hands as they began singing Love Hate.

Turning to Jasper, Shelby said, "Jas, did you plan this?"

Jasper pointed to Magenta.

"All her," Jasper said.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Magenta blew on a party blower and placed a birthday hat on Shelby's head.

"I love you, thank you," Shelby smiled.

"But how did you get permission?" Shelby wondered.

"I have my ways," Magenta rubbed her hands together.

Magenta pulled a few strings with the higher-ups, and voila they got permission to invite the band. As for the band, Magenta's mother had a contact who knew the band, so she was able to get their contact and ask for the birthday performance. They wagered a higher amount to get the Ice Cold Elephants to Oakstone too, two were alumni of the school so they were obliged to do the mini concert for a discounted price.

"Two of the band members used to go to Oakstone," Magenta explained the short version of the whole story.

"What, no way!" Shelby said.

"Now, go and make out with each other or something," Magenta nudged Shelby towards Jasper.

Shelby and Jasper smiled at each other, little lovebirds.

Blue stood to the side, watching them with a lazy smile. His gaze focused more intently on Magenta as she stepped away from Jasper and Shelby.

God, she was beautiful.

Everything about her tonight blew him away and Blue didn't know what to do with himself. He felt like the slowest, clumsiest zombie robot thing.

Magenta noticed Blue, and she ushered him over.

He beckoned her instead and she rolled her eyes, heading to him.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey yourself," he replied.

He looked handsome. She'd suggested the outfit for Jasper, but somehow Blue was wearing the black trousers and white collared shirt and Jasper wore a black shirt and jeans.

"Are you trying to steal the show?" Magenta teased.

"What?" Blue asked.

Magenta pointed to the band playing behind them.

"You're wearing pretty much the same thing as that Mike dude." Magenta said.

"Oh yeah. I didn't notice," Blue said, his gaze still on Magenta. There was no denying it, he was doomed. Her beauty was all-encompassing and he couldn't help feeling the affection seep through his bones.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Magenta smiled.

"Like what?" Blue mused.

"Like I ate a whole watermelon," Magenta said, trying to pinpoint an exact phrase.

"Did you?" Blue raised an eyebrow at the randomness.

"No, but I should have, I'm hungry," Magenta complained.

"You're always a hungry hippo. But hey, you look...great," Blue said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Magenta blushed and she looked away, saying thank you subtly.

"Are we on a truce?" Magenta said, trying to take the attention away from herself.

Magenta didn't understand what was going on tonight, maybe it was the concert bringing pheromones or something. Maybe it was the feeling of being united as a friend group for Shelby. But all she knew was tonight Blue was a charmer.

"What's a truce," Blue joked.

"Maybe," Blue said, covering his lips.

Magenta was happy, and she wished it would be like this forever. With no bad blood, no need for all other things. Just best friends, and new friends coming together under the evening dusk of wonderful music playing in the background. As they looked at each other, Shelby called them in the distance.

"C'mon guys!" Shelby called for Magenta and Blue to join in the concert.

The four of them held hands and ran into the thick of the concert, squealing and shouting with glee.

"Here's to the birthday girl!" Magenta announced.

The crowd parted for them and they went to the front, enjoying the view. The band members rocked the song, jumping about with their guitars and microphones. The crowd screamed for the lead singer as he came to his knees, plucking the strings of the electric guitar.

You're running running

I'm chasing chasing

I'm running running

You're chasing chasing

Shelby pretended to faint when the drummer winked at her, raising his drumstick at her as a tribute.

The night ended all too soon, and the four had such fun. They danced and sang until their feet and throat hurt. Until the teachers came to shut the whole thing down, saying it was now too late and almost curfew.

But the year was not over, and there was much more to come.