<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
.applied {
  background: #eee;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
  <div><p>dummy</p></div>
  <div><span class="applied">1</span><span class="applied">2</span><span class="applied">3</span></div>
  <div><span>4</span><span>5</span><span>6</span></div>
  <div><span class="applied">7</span><span class="applied">8</span><span class="applied">9</span></div>
  <div><span>10</span><span>11</span><span>12</span></div>
</body>
</html>