The Next Top Model: Soul Society

  Chapter 12: Meanwhile VI

  Everything was starting to look familiar as Grimmjow wandered the beige halls of the studio. He frowned out over the two twenty-something men that hurried on when they spotted him, then remembered his purpose there, and put a lethal smile on his face that cleared the hall.

  Grimmjow halted, looking at the vacant beige corridor. The place was a maze of halls. Worse than Las Noches.

  He looked around at the closed doors and secondary corridors. He frowned at the water fountain at the wall.

  He was sure he'd seen that same water fountain three times already.

  He spotted a white-haired man up ahead. "Hey! You!"

  Ray Migel stopped his brisk walk and looked behind him at the call. He involuntarily flinched as Grimmjow's gaze settled on him.

  "Me?"

  "Yeah, you." Grimmjow advanced on Ray, who did as expected - as was custom when one was approached by the large Number Six Espada - and backed up a few steps.

  Ray glanced around nervously, eyeing the Arrancar's unpleasant smile, which was minus the mask. "Can, can I help you?"

  "Yeah. Who's in charge here?"

  Ray nodded down the hall behind Grimmjow where a few people had trickled out of their offices, making their way hastily down the opposite way. "Well, that would be the -"

  "How come I wasn't asked to be a judge?" Grimmjow jabbed a finger into Ray's black t-shirt that was dotted with tiny pink skulls.

  "Well, that's not my decision," Ray said quickly, taking a step back with each jab.

  "You think I can't do it?"

  Jab. Jab. "I suppose you could. It's not my -"

  "You think I have no eye for beauty?" Grimmjow demanded, leaning down to the photo shoot director.

  Ray shrunk back. "I'm sure you do. It's just that -"

  "You think I don't know a pretty girl when I see one?" Grimmjow growled.

  Ray attempted a feeble smile. "Of course you do."

  Grimmjow straightened and looked down the hall behind Ray as Tara passed along the far end. Ray followed the other man's focus.

  "See. She's pretty," Grimmjow said. "I think. I didn't see her face."

  Ray looked back to him. "Of course she's pretty. She's absolutely gorgeous. That's Tara Hills."

  They glanced back at Tara as she picked the wedgey from her tight orange hot pants before turning a corner in the hall.

  "Not one of her more glamorous moments," Ray said without thinking.

  Grimmjow grinned leeringly. "See. I know pretty."

  "I'm not sure about that," Ray mumbled before catching himself.

  "And that one," Grimmjow pointed to where Miss Ray Constance was doing a prissy lumber in his periwinkle blue chiffon bridesmaid dress, trying to catch up with Tara. "She's kinda masculine, but proportioned okay."

  Ray frowned at him. "That's a man."

  Grimmjow watched as Miss Ray disappeared around the corner. "Are you sure?"

  "Yes."

  "Maybe she's just big boned," Grimmjow said in an uncharacteristically mild manner.

  "Boned like an ox." Ray took a deep breath. "Why don't -"

  Grimmjow turned on him. "I should be a judge. I got the mask removed, too." He struck a profile, showing off the new angle of his jaw. "Shaved real close just for it."

  Ray nodded slowly, stepping back, wondering where security was. "Wow, that's some jaw line. I think -"

  Grimmjow took a step toward him. "I had to sneak out of Las Noches just for this. Got a whole shirt, too." He pulled at his black Serush shirt. "See?"

  "A whole shirt?" Ray repeated skeptically.

  "Yeah. Now why can't I be a judge?" he inquired, pointing a finger dangerously close to Ray's face.

  Ray swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'll tell you what. I'll put you on the list and see what the producers say, all right?"

  Grimmjow made his best smile, which was just as brutal as his worst smile. "Yeah. Okay."

  "What's your name, pal?" Ray fished a small note pad and pen from his shirt pocket.

  "Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."

  Grimmjow hovered over Ray as he wrote the name. "No. One g."

  Scribble.

  "Not there. That's supposed to be a q."

  Scribble, scribble.

  "That's right."

  "Okay." Ray nodded. "We'll let you know if you're needed, all right?"

  "When?"

  Ray smiled as best he could. "Soon."

  "Okay then." Grimmjow looked down each end of the hall. "How do you get out of this place?"

  Ray spied a security guard coming down the corridor behind the Espada and waved him over. "You know what - Grimmjow, is it? - I'll have you personally shown the way out. How 'bout that?"

  "Yeah, okay."

  "Good." Ray turned to the bulky security guard that had joined them. "Please show Mr. Jaegerjaquez to the door, would you? He's leaving now."

  "Sure thing, Mr. Migel," the guard said, looking up at the Espada.

  "We'll keep in touch!" Ray called as Grimmjow moved off with the guard. "Don't call us! We'll call you!"