11:29 a.m.: Turlington Plaza buzzes with students; anxiety builds for those who know what is about to occur.
11:30 a.m.: The Century Tower bells chime and a single cry erupts: "Pillow fight!" Dozens of students whip out pillows from backpacks and purses to form a color-strewn blur.
11:32 a.m.: The fight subsides, and the day continues as usual. But for those brief two minutes, a rare celebration took place.
The pillow fight broke out Wednesday on Turlington Plaza between classes. Members of Gainesville's chapter of Flashmob planned the friendly brawl last Tuesday.
They contacted almost 7,000 students by way of e-mail, Facebook and word of mouth, group president Scott Paterson said.
He estimates that 100 students participated in the fight.
Students itched with anticipation as they glanced around for hidden pillows as the minutes ticked down.
Carolina Lopez and Kelsey Peck were worried that they would be the only people to show up.
"I thought nobody was going to do it because we came and everyone was being really sneaky," Lopez, a junior education major, said.
During the fight, Lopez pulled her pillow from her sweater-covered basket, an accessory that Peck said made Lopez look like Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz," and delved into the heart of the mob.
Most students alternated between flinging their pillows at their neighbors and hiding behind their fluffy barricade.
"I went for offense, not defense," said Michelle Curran, a freshman advertising major. "A lot of people were just ducking and covering, but I was just full-on smashing."
Even getting to the pillow fight was a battle for Curran, who sprinted from her public speaking class in Rolfs Hall to Turlington just in time for the clash.
"Only at UF," she said.
Paterson, a senior advertising major, said the best part about this particular event was the low-cost aspect.
"Everyone has a pillow. They're free, no cost involved," he said. "Just bring it, have fun. It's a simple as that."
Paterson said flash mobs are appealing because bystanders are caught by surprise.
"A lot of people don't know what's happening. It's just a fun event. Everyone can relate to it in some way," he said.
He said it is an event where students feel like a part of a secret club.
Paterson hopes to plan future Flashmobs but does not have any scheduled.
