It was an ordinary day at Santa's Workshop. The elves were merrily making toys, others were baking mouth watering
pastries of all sorts, and head elves and assistants were arguing. Obviously, I'm talking about Bernard and Curtis. Lilly,
(Bernard's more agreeable assistant) was going around, giving the elves a few hardy laughs as usual. She was headed
towards the Band Room where the elves learned to play a musical instrument. That was the biggest room at the workshop.
It had every percussion instrument ever created, flutes, oboes, clarinets, Tenors, altos, trumpets, trombones, and many a
more variety of instruments. Lilly of course played percussion when several elves got together to play. Oh, incase I didn't
mention before, all the elves played an instrument. Bernard played the Tenor saxophone. He could also play the electric
bass and piano, but when it really came to piano, Lilly had him beat. She'd been playing piano since she was just a little elf,
about 400 years of age. A yes, back when her mom always put that gigantic red bow on her head which always dwarfed
her even more. Even back then she had those uncontrollable waves of dark brown hair, snow white skin, and warming
gold-flecked violet eyes. Unlike then though, now she had straight bangs also, and an hourglass figure. To work, she
usually wore an indigo, long sleeved, velvet dress, which came down below her ankles. On her tiny feet, she wore black
ballet shoes. And, she was about 5 inches shorter than Bernard. So, back to the story at hand, she was walking to the
band room to play on the baby grand piano. Unfortunately for her, when she walked into the band room, Zack was there.
Now I bet you're wondering, who is Zack. Well, Zack is the head of the invention department. He had a mini mustache, very
bushy eyebrows, wide chestnut eyes, spiky-ish hair, and was as skinny as a stick. When the band got together to play, he
played the clarinet. He tried to play piano but never practiced it, so he rarely played it. Several hundred years back Lilly
would have given anything to be with this elf. She had adored him more than anyone else in the past. Problem was that
when it came to his knowledge that she liked him, he evaded her as much as possible, and celebrated the day when she
stopped liking him. (WHAT A JERK!!) Anyway, now Lilly could barely stand him. She even teased him about his "village
people" (his mustache). Anyyywaaayyy, when she walked into the band room he was playing his clarinet. "Well, well, well,
if it isn't Little Miss Wonka. Aren't you supposed to be solving world hunger or something," he teased, knowing what a
goody two-shoes she was. "Aren't you supposed to be breaking into a bank," she replied. "Touché," Zack said. Lilly sat
down at the piano, flipping through her music. Zack didn't know when it had happened, but he somehow found Lilly
extremely attractive now. He bitterly regretted having have avoided her years ago. If only she still liked him…… but
everybody knew that she didn't because of how he had broken her little Lilly heart. Plus, he suspected that Bernard had a
thing for her, and she the same for Bernard, which made Zack turn green with envy and jealousy. So, he appreciated every
moment he got to spend with her, always closing up on her when she was playing the piano just so they could be alone
together. She started playing a beautiful song, which Zack didn't recognize. Once again he snuck up behind her, and stood
on the right side of her, letting his left hand land softly on her left shoulder. Lilly kept on playing, undisturbed. Or so it
seemed. Lilly was actually intoxicated by his scent. It was a bitter-sweet kind of scent. "Lilly you're not playing right," Zack
joked, finally recognizing the tune as "It Don't Mean a Thing." "Oh really?" Lilly challenged. "Yes really. It goes like this."
Zack responded with equal pride. He then placed his arms on either side of Lilly so that he could play the song. It looked
like he was about to hug Lilly. Lilly was about ready to choke now from his scent, now even stronger than ever. Just when
Zack was about to start playing, Bernard walked in.
Lilly and Zack stayed in their awkward position, for about a second before Lilly jumped up in surprise, making Zack splash
the high keys on the piano sending out an utterly annoying plink through the room."Hi Bernard!" Lilly said happily. Bernard
and Zack glared at each other, Bernard feeling jealous from Zack's proximity to Lilly. "Hello Lilly," Bernard said flirtatiously,
turning to smile radiantly at her. He then turned to Zack, his face turning serious at once. "Zack," Bernard said in an
emotionless voice. "Bernard," Zack responded from right behind Lilly, breathing down her neck. Lilly did all in her power not
to shiver from it. Bernard noticed what Zack was doing, and growled inaudibly. Just then, Stephanie, Lilly's close friend and
piano partner who also played the flute, walked in and said, "Lilly! There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you!"
she said almost completely out of breath. "What is it?" Lilly asked suddenly worried, her mind turned to another matter at
hand. "Santa needs to see you in his office," Stephanie replied. Lilly ran out the door, as Stephanie walked into the band
room, wanting to practice flute for a while. Zack said, "If you'll excuse me" And left. When Zack walked out the door,
Bernard let out an exasperated sigh, putting a fist to his forehead.
Stephanie walked over to him, deciding to ask him what Lilly's other friend, Rosa, had told Lilly to do. What Rosa had told
Lilly to do about Bernard: Walk up to him, tell him you love him, get him by the collar, and pull him into a kiss. So anyways,
Stephanie walked over to Bernard and started with Lilly's classic, "So, nice ceiling lights eih?" "Huh, oh yes, very
illuminating," Bernard responded. Stephanie then said, "Would like it if Lilly were to walk up to you, tell you she loves you,
pull you by the collar, and kiss you??" Bernard's eyes widened at this. Poor bloke, he was totally freaked out! "Umm…..I
can't answer that," Bernard said awkwardly and unsure. Stephanie said, "ok good to know…" and left, leaving Bernard to
ponder his thoughts. He'd never really thought about kissing Lilly, but now that Stephanie mentioned it, it seemed rather
tempting. But more of that later, he had to go help put the finishing touches on the elf's Jazz Night Ball! It was the only elf
dance ever held and since all the elves loved Swing Music, well why not hold a ball. That's when it occurred to Bernard; he
was going to ask Lilly to dance with him. But wait, then he would need to learn how to dance! Better learn now than never!