A group of students from the year below ran up to Magenta after the end of school the next week.
She was so focused on looking over her French test results that she didn't notice the students coming to her until they were in front of her. She calculated the scores and double checked, seeing that the French teacher made one or two miscalculations. Magenta turned to go back and talk to the teacher, passing the auditorium on her way to the classrooms.
Ambushing her, five younger class students went running to her. They looked organized, too organized in terms of standing form and even their faces all looked a bit similar, five heart shaped faces with big eyes and clear rounded lips.
Magenta took a step back, afraid they would pour something on her. That would be quite typical of Blue. He always liked the 'pour something' pranks.
"MA!" The first student sang.
"GEN!" Then the next in loud harmony.
"TA!" People started gathering around, pointing and filming with those older style rectangular cameras.
"DA!" Magenta smacked a hand to her forehead.
"VIES!" They finished with jazz hands.
And of course, Blue Harrison appeared behind the group. He opened his mouth to sing. He sang well mostly, but sometimes he was a bit off key.
"Magenta is a funny one, she's a real trickster, Harley Quinn's got nothing on her.
Blue know? Blue go! Blue know? Blue snow!"
Magenta tried to back up, but the crowd pressed in closer. She knew Blue would end with a bang. The group of lower-class students materialized with water buckets.
It was a water prank, confirming Magenta's suspicion. The first and second singers sloshed their buckets to the side, causing some students to move out of the way. Magenta did not want to get wet, seeing as she just did her hair nicely in the morning too.
Magenta saw her opportunity when a gap in the crowd formed. With a whoosh, she started running through the gap in the crowd. She was quite a fast runner, so she was quite proud that she could get so far away. Pride came before the fall.
"Not so fast!" Blue started running too, holding a water balloon in his hands.
Blue chased her through the classrooms to the square in front of the sanctuary hall. The sanctuary hall was an extra hall like the auditorium but for dangerous events like terrorist acts or acting as a bomb shelter.
Just as Magenta hit a dead end by the walls, she smacked into a hard body.
"I'm sorry!" Magenta looked up and saw Reese McCartney staring down at her.
Blue caught up and he threw the water balloon long range.
Magenta let out a shriek and dodged to the side.
The water balloon hit its target with a loud splash, and Magenta turned in horror to see Reese all wet. The balloon smashed into his chest, exploding water all over his face and hair.
Frozen, Magenta looked at Blue who watched Reese. For a moment, Magenta felt a tense atmosphere between Blue and Reese who avoided eye contact with Blue.
Magenta broke the silence, "Ah, Reese I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to!"
"It was my bad," Blue said with clenched teeth.
"Your aim sucks," Reese smirked, slightly shaking his head so droplets fell from his hair.
He loosened his school tie and ran a hand through his blond hair. Magenta was slack-jawed, watching both of them. She fawned over Reese's hotness but frowned at the rudeness between the boys.
"Or maybe it doesn't," Blue said, his eyes glinting with malice.
Magenta wondered what beef was between Reese and Blue. Whatever it was, she could talk to Blue later. Magenta placed a hand over Reese's arm.
Reese looked at her again, and he asked, "are you okay?"
"Me, I'm fine. You, you should get dried off," she said. She let go of his arm, as Blue took hold of her hand.
"Let's go." Blue turned to leave with Magenta.
Dazed, Magenta allowed Blue to walk with her out of sight from Reese who watched the two of them leave together. As Blue held her hand, Magenta felt safe and grounded. She held hands with him for a good few feet before she realized they were alone together.
Magenta shook free from Blue immediately and wiped her hand against her shirt.
"Blue! What was all that? It was a water prank, I get it. But you didn't have to do that with Reese right there."
Blue didn't reply, and he just breathed unevenly. His breaths came in short pants, and his gaze pierced Magenta. He looked quite angry and Magenta did not understand why.
"Do you like him?" Blue asked Magenta.
"What if I do?" Magenta said.
"You shouldn't." Blue scoffed, turning and walking away.
Caveman Blue was not fun to talk to, Magenta decided. She considered asking him why he cared. After all, they were just frenemies, right? Their best friends were the ones dating, not them. Magenta waited a few minutes, contemplating and thinking what was up with Blue and Reese.
Magenta then remembered she'd dropped her school bag when she decided to run from the scene in front of the auditorium.
She went back, and thankfully her bag was there.
When Magenta got back to her room, there was a note in her bag. Several of her pens had been taken apart.
I'm sorry if it went too far today. I don't want to see you get hurt. Thanks for letting me use the pen. inks.
It wasn't completely surprising that Blue apologized, though it was something different. But stranger things happened all the time.
_____
"So, you like Magenta."
Blue looked up, having just changed back into his clothes after soccer practice. The person standing there made him jump in surprise.
"Gwendolyn? What are you doing in the boys' locker room?" Blue questioned.
"Picking up something for my brother," Gwendolyn said, sidling closer to him.
Then Gwendolyn's words registered in Blue's brain.
"Wait, what did you say about Magenta?" Blue asked.
"You heard me," Gwendolyn had this smile that made Blue feel uncomfortable. He wasn't sure why, but just that it was familiar and not in a good way.
Gwendolyn was stunning, sure but she wasn't Blue's type. In those movies, the cheerleader would be with the star athlete. But Blue only wanted someone like Magenta. Not the head cheerleader, but the weirdly humorous prankster. Gwendolyn swished her long blond hair behind her shoulder, and parked a hand on her hip.
"I know you like her. But she doesn't like you...yet. But what if she did like you?" Gwendolyn suggested.
The boys locker room was not supposed to have girls there, so Gwendolyn's appearance was very peculiar. Saying that she had to pick up something for her brother was probably a lie, and Blue could technically report Gwendolyn for her trespassing and breaking the rules. Blue was considering doing just that, but he didn't want to cause harm to Gwendolyn just for breaking this rule.
"I don't know what you mean," Blue said.
Gwendolyn rapped her nails against a locker and said, "Okay, we're doing the denial thing. I mean, do you want Magenta to live happily ever after with the hotshot Reese McCartney ?"
Blue tensed at the mention of Reese. Blue now saw what Gwendolyn was trying to do. She was trying to get a rise from him so he would react, and then she would pry at why he was reacting a certain way. She was getting a rise out of him indeed. Reese seemed to be the better option on the outside, but Blue knew appearances were deceiving.
"I say we make her jealous by going out together, me and you. Once she sees you're taken, she'll want you." Gwendolyn's words tempted Blue.
"What do you get out of it?" Blue asked, stuffing his shoes into his locker, and closing the locker door.
"The same as you. Except I want Reese."
"Why do you want Reese?" Blue asked.
"Let's just say we have scores unsettled," Gwendolyn said.
Blue didn't know what to say to that. Gwendolyn wanted some kind of revenge or she wanted to get with Reese. Blue decided not to meddle with her affairs.
"I don't want anyone to get hurt," Blue said.
"You don't have to worry about that, we're just fake dating, it won't hurt anyone," Gwendolyn assured him.
Gwendolyn flashed a glimpse of her pearly whites, with that same smile.
Blue thought about it. If he and Gwendolyn were seen together that would certainly cause a reaction from Magenta. But was he willing to do this just to get Magenta's attention? Would it even change anything? Blue didn't know the answers but decided he could try. After all, it wasn't a binding contract or anything. He could just end the fake dating if Gwendolyn tried anything stupid.
They shook hands on it eventually, and Gwendolyn slid a finger across Blue's shoulder.
"Some dust there. Great. Let's get you your girl."
Blue tried not to recoil when she touched him. It was going to be a long week.