You Have No Idea (Josh Groban fan fic)

Chapter 1

My first day of work on an American tv show was a cold early December day just like any other winter's day. New York winter's were famously cold but being British I knew the real meaning of cold and had wrapped up in more layers than an Egyptian mummy.

My heart was already hammering as the taxi pulled up outside the studio and the taxi was getting a bit stuffy. I paid the driver and slid out into the cold air. The cold did not help, I was now shaking too. I gave my name and credentials to the security man at the gate and hurried inside.

"You can do this." I told myself quietly, trying to convince the cold panic in my chest.

I was not ok. I could feel a panic attack rising and now was really not a good time. Breathe. I was too hot. I wanted to take all my clothes off. No, don't. That's all kinds of wrong. I put my bag on the floor and shuffled to the nearest wall. Groan! Why now? So embarrassing!

"Are you ok, ma'am?" a voice asked behind me. "Is this your purse on the floor?"

Oh great, now there was a witness to my panic attack. I grumbled and turned around.

Wow, the owner of that voice was handsome! I looked at the man in front of me, big brown eyes full of concern, ruffled dark wavy hair, a few freckles over his fair skin.

"Do you need a paramedic?" he asked.

"I'm having a panic attack." I said in a small voice.

"The lady speaks!" he smiled. "And is that an English accent I hear?" I nodded. "Take a deep breath. You'll be fine. I get them too, I find the best thing is to think of something else. I know that's easier said than done but it helps. Does that work for you? First of all, I'm Josh. What's your name?"

I took a deep breath "Anna." I said.

"Is it your first day too?" he asked.

"Yes. Not my first day in America, God no!" I laughed awkwardly. "That would really be overwhelming."

"There we go! You're laughing now! Feeling better?" he asked.

I nodded. "I'd better get to work." I said. "Thank you."

I shuffled along a little awkwardly.

"Don't trip over your..." he warned but too late as I tripped a little over my bag.

"I'll try to make it through the day without breaking anything." I joked. "I should go but hopefully I'll see you around."

"Not if I see you before." he smiled. Then I heard him mutter something under his breath that sounded like "really cool, you idiot."

A few meters down the corridor I looked over my shoulder to see he too had stopped to look back. I gave a sheepish wave.

Once I made it to the hair and make up department in one piece I was much calmer. I already knew the rest of the team from pre production meetings. I felt much calmer as I set up my station and got ready for the day. I could do this. I knew it.

I chatted with the team for a bit until the head of department read through our schedule. First we'd have two actors; Tony Danza and Josh Groban. Groban? I thought he was a singer with a big opera style voice. I'd brought one of his albums for my Dad but ended up enjoying it more and the CD was now in my collection somewhere. And that guy earlier said his name was Josh. He was very charming... hold on.

My train of thought was interrupted by an elbow in the side.

"I say we give English to Groban. She'll like that!" one of my colleagues giggled, sending a titter of giggles around the room.

Oh great, I though. I nodded and obliged then went off to my station to lose myself in my thoughts again.

"Well, when I said I'd see you first I wasn't expecting it to be this soon." Josh's voice brought me back to reality a short while later.

He was looking very handsome in his costume for the show, a dark blue suit and white shirt. I blushed with a mix of embarrassment and hot flush at the delightful sight in front of me.

I smiled timidly. "I'm so embarrassed about earlier!" I said, putting my hands over my cheeks in an attempt to hide my blushing.

"Don't be!" he chuckled. "We all get nervous. Should we start fresh, act like it never happened?"

I nodded. "Hi, I'm Anna but these guys call me English cos guess what?"

"Are you English?" he asked in mock surprise.

"Who'd have thought!" I laughed.

"Well, I'm Josh and no one calls me American even though I am. Nice meet you Anna." he said, holding out a hand for me to shake.

"Excuse my cold hand." I said, taking his warm hand.

"Cold hands, warm heart, right?" he smiled.

"No, I have a ice cold heart. Solid ice." I said sarcastically.

We made small talk as I got started and pulled things out of my kit bag.

"What's a nice English girl like you doing in America? You've got loads of jobs back home surely." Josh asked.

"We do but I thought I needed a change. Long story short, I was in the West End doing the prosthetics for Phantom and when the preverbal hit the fan I got a transfer to the Broadway Phantom..." I paused mid explanation. "You ok there? Every time I say Phantom you sound like a mouse being trodden on."

"You've worked on Phantom?" he asked with wonder. "Oh my god, was it amazing?"

I grinned knowing I'd found another fan. "It was amazing beyond words! All my theatre dreams come true!" I gushed.

"I can tell this is the start of a beautiful friendship." he grinned.

"I hope so." I agreed. "Oh, but bad news. I'm the nasty person who's going to have to comb all your lovely hair back. Combing through curls makes me sad." I pouted and gave my ginger curls a bounce.

"My mother will approve when you're done though." he sighed.

"I aim to please parents." I smiled.

During the day my confidence gradually built. Theatre girl had nothing to be worried about! Sometimes I'd be on set to retouch someone's lipstick, powder a bit of shine or tame a stray strand of hair. There was a lot of time standing around waiting so I would watch the scene. So far I could tell this was going to be a funny series and filming would be fun.

In between scenes I got talking to Monica who was playing one of the lead roles.

"Coffee?" she asked, offering me a paper cup.

"No thanks. I'm British, I've got to keep up the stereotype that we only drink tea." I smiled.

"Oh, you're the one the make up team call English!" she laughed gently.

"Yep, guilty. Caffeine gives me the jitters anyway and god knows I'm jittery enough today." I grimaced. "I had a little panic attack earlier and poor Josh found me facing the wall, groaning. I'm so embarrassed."

"But you're feeling better now sweetie?" she asked and gave me a small hug.

I had a feeling I was going to make friends here.