The Biz: Versatility: Model Me

DGM

Chapter 1

NOTE: I know this is long for the first chapter, but it turned out this way. I put a lot of effort in it so please review and let me know. If it's popular enough I'll continue. If not, I'll put it on hold until I finish my other story (ies). I want to work with three, but I'm not sure if I'll keep up. So I ask you all to be patient. Thanks and let me know what you think.

NOTE THAT THE TITLE MAY CHANGE. IF SO I WILL LET YOU KNOW A CHAPTER SOON.

Let's Talk

Allen idly sat in the back of his classroom and he quickly answered the questions to his pop quiz. When he finished he turned his paper over and put his pencil down, staring at his desk, absolutely thoughtless. All he heard was his own breathing and the clock ticking. It was almost mocking him. Tick tock. Tick tock tick tock tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock tick tock tick. The teacher came around and picked up all the papers. He gazed at Allen for a moment then went on. Allen lowered his head and looked further down. He wished the school policy would allow him to wear a hoodie or a hat. Something to cover his hair and eye.

Allen was often picked on for his hair and the mark on his face, but he never did get in fights. Or a least, he tried not to. When the bell rang, Allen waited for everyone to leave the room and he sat there for a few minutes, but a few kids were still in the room. If you paid close attention, you could hear somebody whisper freak. Freak, that was the word he always heard. Freak. Was he really a freak all because of how he looked?

Allen stumbled out of his chair and ushered himself out the door. He slowly walked around the halls and got all of his school books and papers out of his locker. After that, he made his way out the front doors. He admired the surroundings and wore a meek smile. "At least it's a beautiful day." he told himself.

Allen yawned and walked around town. He tried looking fora job at first by going through wanted ads and signs that were in the newspapers or on the front door. Some places said that he was too young and others waved their hand in dismissal after a single glimpse. Others were odd jobs he just couldn't bring himself to do no matter how desperate he was to pay his Master's debts. There were a few places that would accept him, but they had something to do with prostitutes or a related subject. After hours of hopelessly searching, he gave up and found the diner he usually goes to when he's out.

Checking to see how much money he had to spare, he took all his money out of his pocket. He had just enough to buy something small. So he entered as he rubbed his head. He would order then do his homework while he ate. A tiny bell started ringing and Allen made his way to a booth in the corner, but beside a window. In other words, he took a left and went straight until he hit a wall. Sliding into the semi-comfy seat, he put his bag beside him and grabbed his pencil. He took out his homework then debated on what to start with. "Welcome back Allen. What can I get you this time kiddo?"

Allen looked up at the waitress and smiled. "Hello Jessica." he greeted. "I'll just have a glass of water and a the chicken meal."

"Low on cash?" Jessica asked, jotting it down.

"Yeah." Allen said sheepishly, rubbing his head while he laughed a little. "I really need to find a job, but I can't in this city."

"Why don't you work here? I'm sure there's an opening. Mom has recently lost a few workers after all." Jessica said.

"Thanks, but I must refuse." Allen told her.

"I don't know, Allen the busboy has quite the ring to it, don't ya think?" Jessica's brother, Marty said.

"Be a clam and keep your mouth shut!" Jessica hollered, throwing her notepad at him. "I didn't mean cleaning, jerk!"

"Right, let him be a waiter. Better yet, let him work in the kitchen. Either way, the food will never make it to the designated table." Marty said, snickering with his buddy Ron.

Allen felt his head sink lower and he silently mutter. "He's right."

"Uh. . . Um. . Al- Allen. He didn't mean it! He didn't mean it!" Jessica said, panicky. "Look what you two did. He's sulking now! I'm gonna wring your two heads totgether and you'll have to have surgery just to get free when I'm done with you two!" She said, rolling up her sleeves.

"Gwahhh, I didn't say anything! Why me? Leave me out of this one gal!" Ron shouted, cowering behind a counter.

"Jessica, leave them be. It's fine. Really, it's not like you don't know it true." Allen said, holding her back. "Please Jessica."

"Fine. I'll be right back with your meal." Jessica said, storming off.

Relieved, Allen sighed and went back to his homework. His pencil moved across his paper and occasionally, his eraser. When his food was brought to him, he picked at it while resisting the urge to eat it all as he did his homework. He tapped his pencil on the table as he thought about a question then he drearily sighed. "My life is pretty dowdy. I should be having the time of my life. I am a lad still." Allen whispered.

Komui yanked at his hair and shook his body from side to side, tears running down his face. "This isn't good, this isn't good!"

"What's wrong now?" Reever asked with a groan.

"We need a new model! Now! Our new ones keep quitting because of Kanda and we just lost our newest one. If we don't get another one soon then we're done for." Komui bellowed.

"Why do we even need a new member?" Daisya asked.

"Why?" Komui repeated, spinning around and slamming his hands on his massive wooden desk. "Because if we're going to keep our reputation then we'll need somebody new to gain more attention. If we keep using the ones we used the year before and the year before that and before that and before that-"

"We get it!" Reever interjected.

"Anyway, we can't keep using the same people every year. We will appear dull. We need somebody new, somebody fresh! Someone Kanda can't scare away." Komui exclaimed.

"HA! Goooooooood luck with that!" Daisya hollered, cackling as he slapped his knee and fell over in hysterics.

"Not helping bro." Lavi said, but smirking himself.

Komui pushed his glasses further up his nose and clasped his hands together, smiling. "We need somebody different and gains everyone's attention. So the person has to be flamboyant and condescending. They don't have to be above average, but at least there. This person also has to be 20 or under so to gain young people's attention as well as adults in certain ages. It can't be ordinary either. Ordinary will not do. So, any body have any suggestions?" Komui said gleefully.

"At least average, flamboyant, condescending, not ordinary, and 20 or under. Don't you think you're asking for a little too much?" Lavi asked.

"Maybe I am, but we need something new. Normally a girl would be all for this modeling stuff. Not only do they get noitced and loved, but they get to try on clothes all the time. Not every girl is like that, but hey, who doesn't want attention? And we do need another girl here. Do we not?" Komui replied.

"So you want us to choose from what? Our memories?" Kanda said rudely.

"No, from these." Komui said, putting several boxes in front of everybody. "They're filled with files of people in town. We're going to go through it and decide."

"But the person has a high chance of saying no." Lenalee stated.

"And this will take... For! Ev! Er!" Lavi added.

"Then what do you propose we do?" Komui inquired.

"Well, how about we go through last year's school yearbook. That way, the new model will be in High School and with kids these days, they're qualities are definitely far from ordinary." Lenalee offered.

Lenalee went through a small chest on a shelf behind Komui's desk and took out her yearbook and opened it. She flipped through the pages and sat down on the couch next to Lavi and Kanda. Lavi peeked over her shoulder and grinned. "~ That sounds like a terific idea Lenalee! ~" Komui said joyfully.

"I actually agree with him. I think it'll be nice to work with a schoolmate. Another model, another friend." Lavi said. "Oooh, HER! She is H-O-T." Lavi said, his voice getting husky and he raised his eyebrows up and down a few times. "Eh, eh?"

"Heather Love? I don't know, she wants to be an archaeologist or a marine biologist. Or perhaps a scientist. Either way, her future is nowhere near fashion. She told me that once." Lenalee said.

"How about Risa Dean?" Lavi queried.

"Everything she wears has to be bright or neon though." Lenalee retorted.

As Lavi picked girl after girl, Lenalee had a comment about them that just wouldn't mix with this business. That or Kanda wouldn't even allow it anyway. Actually, every girl Lenalee didn't have to say anything about, he said "HELL NO!" Everyone figured he didn't want any girls from school there because they were kinda obsessed with certain boys. And by certain boys, that usually means Kanda or Lavi. Daisya graduated last year though. So he wasn't really that big with the girls anymore. Because they were all over the boys in school most of the time. And he wasn't anywhere near as famous as those two.

So every girl got turned down due to Kanda. Which led to an argument. Then that led to fighting and Lavi running around like a girl being chased by Kanda. "Help! Help! SOMEONE! Yuu is going to touch me!" Lavi bellowed, laughing as he went along.

"Why, you little rabbit. I'm gonna kill you in cold blood!" Kanda screamed.

"Oh nooooooooo, somebody help me!" Lavi exclaimed childishly and femininely, cupping his face. "Can anyone save me? Where is my Hercules?"

"So much for that idea." Lenalee said, going over her yearbook again. "Huh, wait a minute. Someone isn't in here."

Lavi suddenly appeared behind her and stole the yearbook away. "No way! Everyone at school loves their picture being taken here!" Lavi claimed.

"Not everyone Lavi, but it is rare that no one makes it in the yearbook. Even if someone missed picture day and makeup picture days, they almost always make sure to get some kind of picture to put in it." Lenalee corrected.

"Well duhhhhh. I just said that." Lavi said slowly, as if she were dumb, and shaking his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, you ought to pay more attention Double-L. Uh, Triple-L, actually."

Lenalee rolled her eyes and stole her book back from him and found a name in italic print: Allen Walker. "Hey, Lavi, who is Allen Walker?" Lenalee asked.

"Who?" Lavi muttered, reading the name with her. "Umm, the name don't ring a bell."

"It's doesn't, but that's beside the point. Do you think he is new?" Lenalee responded.

"I dunno." Lavi shrugged. "Check another yearbook."

Lenalee did just that too. She got the last yearbook for her Middle School days and looked all over the book to try and find the name. Again, the name was in italics and no image was given. "Not in here either." Lenalee said.

"Check another one!" Lavi said, yelling in her ear.

"We can go through all of my yearbooks straight down to Preschool, but we're not going to find him. That's what I believe." Lenalee told him.

"Seeing how we can't get another gal, why don't we search for a guy?" Daisya asked.

"But, then there will be another fiend about my dear, sweet, and innocent Lenalee! I can't allow another boy around my dear sister. I refuse to allow her to lose her innocence!" Komui said, whiney, and jumping for his sister.

Lenalee held her two yearbooks up and he just hit them very hard and fell on the ground. "How could you be so cruel to your loving brother?"

"Oh, shad up!" Kanda roared.

"We'll look around and see what we get. For now, I'm going on a walk. See ya boys later." Lenalee said, waving bye as she walked off.

"I'mma coming too." Lavi said, chasing after her.

"Alright."

Lenalee and Lavi glanced around as they walked through the streets and Lavi often laughed at some ridiculous thing. It could be a picture to how somebody looks and TV commercials on big screens or ads on a bus. You name it, he laughed. He was in a jolly mood today. Lenalee wondered why. "I wonder who this Allen character is." Lavi said out of the blue, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Lenalee looked from a fluffy teddy bear in a store window to Lavi. He seemed serious for once and he stared at the cars that rolled by. She blinked, wondering what just happened, but then she watched the cars like him. "I do, too. I wonder if I've seen him before or if I've passed him in school. Something. I think I'll ask about him in school tomorrow." Lenalee said.

"Yeah, totally." Lavi agreed, grinning his goofy grin. "For now, you got cash on ya? I'm starving."

Lenalee sighed. "I knew you wanted something. Let's go."

Lavi skipped for joy and she palmed her face as if to show how embarrassed she was. As if anybody cared. Either way, she still thought about that boy that wasn't in any of her yearbooks. If not all, two at least. That was so strange and abnormal. She was sure most of the kids at her school loved picture day. A lot of them were all about fashion, looks, and wanted to look good to impress others. So pictures were something they could use to brag with.

"Ooooh, Triple-L. There's a diner. Let's go, let's go. Hurry your slow ass up!" Lavi said, trying to push her, but she stopped and he looked at her. "What is it? I'm hungrrrrrr-heheheeee." Lavi further complained.

Lenalee furrowed her brows and placed her finger on her lips, gently tapping it. A smile broadened and she grabbed Lavi by the sleeve and dragged him in the diner. She basically picked a random booth and they sat near the back of the diner. To be exact, Lavi said they took a left then went right, almost all the way to the back.

She forced Lavi's head down and she sat on her knees, turning around to look at something, but her eyes just barely went over the top of the seat. Lavi slowly peeked his head up and tried to find what she was gazing at. "What is it Lenalee?"

"Look, that boy right there." Lenalee whispered.

"Boy? Where, all I see is an old man." Lavi said.

Lenalee twitched with irritation. "Look closer, that old man is really a kid. Just examine him." Lenalee said softly.

Lavi looked him over the best he could from his position and tried to move his head further up in the air to look down at the rest of his body. "Well, he's skinny. Slender as a toothpick."

"That makes no sense." Lenalee said flatly.

"Sure it does. Anywho!, he looks. . . .Different. Exotic, really. Completely out of the ordinary and on a scale of one to 10, I'd give him a seven. Right around average, but how old is he? He looks 12." Lavi said, rubbing his chin.

Lenalee resisted her urge to smack him. Instead, she slapped her face and bit back a groan. "Does anything ring a bell?" Lenalee asked.

"Nope!" Lavi said, turning back around and smiled, picking up the menu. "Wait a minute. Lenalee!"

"What Lavi?" Lenalee asked, staring at him through the cracks of her fingers. "What now?"

Lavi glanced back at the boy and then at the menu. "They don't have shrimp on the menu!" Lavi cried.

Lenalee kneed the seat and groaned. "Then find something else to eat."

"But I want shrimp." Lavi said. "Ooh, onion rings. Yummy!"

Lenalee turned around and decided to get something to eat then tell him while they waited for it to be brought to them. "Hold on a sec, that boy matches Komui's request perfectly!" Lavi exclaimed, spinning around.

Lenalee wearily sighed and turned around again. "Definitely exotic, so he isn't ordinary. Pretty adorable for a boy, not as adorable as me, but hey, Komui said average at least. Anyways, he got the looks and there's not a doubt in my mind he's under 20. Including the fact he can gain everyone's attention with that tattoo and the luscious white hair. I wonder how he bleached it like that, though. Did he use bleach and clorox and put his head in a washer or sumtin'?" Lavi said aloud, whispering.

Ron elbowed Marty lightly and nodded his head in Lavi's and Lenalee's. Marty dully looked at them and followed their gaze and as fast as lightning, he perked up. He nudged Jessica and pointed at Lavi and Lenalee. Doing as told, she stared at them, then at Allen, then at them again. "Hey, aren't they from. . . . . ?" Jessica trailed off.

"Oh yeah. I'd remember that cutie anywhere." Ron said, leaning on a counter and eyeing her. "But why are they checking out Allen? It's kinda weird that the boy is, too. Catch my drift?"

"It sure is peculiar." Jessica agreed.

"The funny thing is, that dense moron doesn't even notice it." Marty laughed.

"Please, I don't think he even knows who they are." Ron said.

"Please, you two only know the girl. I on other hand, know'em both." Jessica said.

"Well of course." they said in unison.

"Hey, do you think if I ask her out she'll go out with me?" Marty asked.

"I wouldn't." Jessica said flatly and rudely.

"Joy killer." he grumbled.

Jessica shrugged and rolled her eyes at the same time. Steadily, she made her way over to the two and held up her notepad. "Can I help you two?" Jessica asked kindly.

Both their heads creaked as they turned them to look at her. She nervously smiled. They sure were weird. "Excuse me. . . . . . . uh. . .?" Lenalee started.

"Jessica."

"Jessica, can you tell me who that boy is over there?" Lenalee asked.

Jessica followed her index finger all the way over to her earlier customer. "Him? That's Allen." she answered.

"Allen?" Lavi repeated. "What's his last name?"

"Walker. Allen Walker." Jessica told him.

Lavi and Lenalee stared at one another in amazement. "Speak of the devil and slap your grandma, shoot Billy the Goat, sing Yankee Doodle, cross your fingers, dang that iro-" Lavi whispered.

"Knock it off." Jessica muttered. "That's freaking me out."

"Excuse me Jessica, but do you know if he has a job right now?" Lenalee asked.

"You shouldn't pry Lenalee. Model or not, it's none of your business." Jessica told her.

"I'm not trying to be rude. I just need to know. Because if he doesn't, I have a job offer for him." Lenalee said.

Jessica furrowed her brow and crossed her arms. She peered at Lenalee and deep into her soul. "Call me crazy, but you aren't kidding."

"Nope."

"Well, he is currently unemployed." Jessica answered.

"Terrific. Come on Lavi." Lenalee said, dragging him over to Allen.

Allen finished his homework and started putting it away. Just as he was about to get up and pay, two people got beside the booth and stared at him, smiling. "Excuse me, but can I help you?" Allen asked quietly.

"I change my opinion. I think I'll rate him at twelve. He's better close up. Do you think they'll approve?" Lavi whispered.

"Uhhhh, what do you mean by that?" Allen asked quizzically.

"Definitely." Lenalee responded. "Can we sit down?"

"Actually ma'am, I was just about to leave." Allen told her kindly.

"Then will you follow us?" Lenalee asked.

"You're complete strangers." Allen said flatly.

"But we attend your school and we have an offer." Lavi told him.

"I never realized that. . . . . . However, what kind of offer are you talking about?" Allen asked, standing up.

"A job offer, but unless you follow us, we can't really give you an offer." Lavi said.

Allen stood up and quickly paid for his meal. He stared at them for a few minutes. "What kind of job offer?"

Allen bought a bottle of water real quick and turned back around for their answer. They were looking at each other, mentally asking if they should tell him now. Allen patiently waited and took a drink of his water. "Modeling." they said together.

Allen gagged and choked on the water and covered his mouth to keep himself from spitting the water out. His eyes nearly popped out and he stared at them in total disbelief even as he choked. "Are you. . .*cough, cough, cough*. . . Crazy!" Allen shouted through coughs.

"A little bit." they admitted.

Allen put the bottle down and eyed them, still in disbelief. He shook his head and got serious after that. "You've got to be joking." Allen said.

"No. We're serious." Lenalee said, smiling.

Allen scratched his head and thought about it. Was there something wrong with their eyes? He looked like a delinquent. The mark, his hair, no one wanted to be near somebody like him. Not this fast. "No."

"Are you sure? Just give it a shot. Come with us and check the place out. Please Allen." Lavi begged, clasping his hands.

"How do you know my name?" Allen inquired.

"Jessica told us." Lavi said like it was obvious.

"Look, I'm not trying to be cheeky, but this isn't exactly my kind of thingamajig. In case ye haven't noticed, I don't look normal. I shufty strange. So I can't be a model and I know next to sod all about that area graft anyhow." Allen told them calmly.

"Uhh, say what now?" Lenalee asked.

"Dude! That accent! Where ya from pal?" Lavi asked, grasping Allen's arm and jumping up and down with joy. "Are ya British Allen?"

Allen covered his mouth and felt his cheeks warm a little. "Blasted."

"You are! You are!" Lavi said gleefully.

"Stop it. You're making a scene." Allen hissed.

"British? Well, it's a sure in-depth accent. I barely understand a word." Lenalee mumbled.

"That's it. You're coming with us." Lavi said, running out and dragging Allen by his arm. Lenalee ran after them and Allen held his stomach. He felt he was going to get sick. "Just listen. You'll want to be with us. Trust me."

"After I hurl." Allen said, green in the face.

When Lavi finally stopped running, they arrived in Komui's office and Lavi was too excited to be panting for breath. As for Allen, he felt broken and Lenalee just stood there, smiling as if nothing happened at all. Allen, though, was holding his mouth with both hands and felt dizzy. He wanted to puke. He so wanted to puke. After he just ate, this stupid red head rushed him somewhere without permission. Basically kidnapping him. "Lavi, who is this?" Komui questioned.

"And why does he look like he's about to throw up?" Reever added.

"This is our candidate to for our new model. You'll just love him!" Lavi said, stressing the word love.

Allen kept his head down and squeezed his eyes shut. He inhaled a sharp breath and exhaled leisurely. He wasn't going to upchuck, but his stomach was unsettled. Although, Allen felt eyes on him. More than two sets, too. Removing his eyes from his feet, he steadily raised his head and lowered his hands. He wasn't so green now and his pale skin glistened under the light. Allen felt way too uncomfortable right now. "I asked for a girl." Komui said.

"But we decided on him, Brother. Just look at him." Lenalee said, gently pushing Allen forward.

Kanda and Daisya gazed at him and looked him up from top to bottom. Komui caved and dashed over to him. With his hand in his chin, he inspected Allen. "Hhmmmmmmmmm." he hummed.

Allen took a single step back and awkwardly watched the man circle him. "Hmmmmmm."

"Well? What do you think?" Lavi asked.

"White hair, a strange tattoo, eye-catching, I'll admit that. His skin is rather pale, but it matches in a sincere way. He is but a child, Lavi. I can't use him." Komui said.

"Child? I'm 15 mister." Allen silently grumbled.

"You serious?" Lavi questioned. "I knew you were in High School, but I thought you skipped a few grades man!"

Allen's fingers twitched, but he didn't speak after that. "Well, with that being said, he sure does look different. He is under 20 and his appearance is. . . . . Unique." Komui added.

"What makes him different aside from his appearance?" Reever asked.

"His accent." Lavi said, nudging Allen. "Go ahead. Say something."

Allen crossed his arms and shyly looked at the wall. He refused to say anything. He didn't know them and he didn't even want the job. "Allen, please, we really need a new model." Lenalee pleaded.

Allen forced himself not to look at her. He would not be a model. "I will not do this."

"C'mon. It's fun." Daisya said.

"I look strange. I'm no good for a model. Now, I have to go home." Allen said, biting his tongue.

"His voice sounds sweet and soft, but where's the accent?" Daisya asked.

Lavi tapped his head and then snapped his fingers. He tripped Allen as he got ready to leave and he fell, but not on the ground. He fell into someone. He look up and started to say something as he got back on his steady feet. "Pardon me sir." Allen mumbled.

"No problem." Russel told him.

Allen rubbed his head and sighed. A bunch of workers were entering the room and now blocking his way. "Hold on shorty. Listen to us and you might hear something you like." Lavi said, locking his arms around Allen's neck. "Alright?"

Allen twitched and he shoved Lavi away. "My name is Allen yeh toss-pot! Now leave me alone before I get mad! My patience is wearing thin and that's hard to dae yeh loudmouth. I already came here because yeh practically kidnapped me. Now I'm leaving without the job!" Allen said, almost seething.

"Whoa! A Brit!" Komui exclaimed.

Allen rubbed his temples. Do they know when to shut their yap and give up? "Wait, you said you have a lot of patience?" Reever asked. "How high would you rate yourself?"

"I suppose eight." Allen said, thinking about it. "Most of the time."

Komui's glasses glinted and he examined the boy one more time. "Hello there, I'm Komui Lee. The president of this establishment. You are?"

Allen questionably looked at him. "My name is Allen Walker. This company seems fascinating and all, Sir, but frankly, I don't do this. I must decline any offer you have if you have any at all. This is not the type of job I'm looking for. I'm sorry." Allen said, making sure he didn't use his accent.

"So you're looking for a job? Any reason?" Komui asked.

"It's none of your concern, but I do need the money to put it simply." Allen told him, walking towards the door.

"Hang on, would this be enough to change your mind?" Komui said, handing him a piece of paper.

Allen read it and he stood there, absolutely still. What should he do? This kind of money, weekly, monthly, daily, it would all be enough to help pay for Master's debts. He would even have plenty of money left over after so long. He could really use it. But the job. . . . The job! Had he no shame? "I. . . I. . ." Allen thought hard. He really needed the money and it would be a great help. "Before I accept, we need to talk more."