You Have No Idea (Josh Groban fan fic)

Chapter 2

My first week turned out to be pretty easy and nothing to be anxious about. Every morning Josh would come in, we'd chat and then he'd give me a high five as he left. During the rest of the day we hardly had time to speak as one or both of us was always working. On Friday at lunch time he caught my eye across the dining room and gestured for me to sit next to him. I sat down next to him and opposite Monica. She grinned at me while Josh introduced me to some of the rest of the cast.

"What are you doing tonight?" Monica asked.

"Umm, nothing." I replied. "Why?"

"We're putting together a bowling team. Who'm I kidding it's Josh's idea cos he's a nerd. Do you bowl?" she asked.

Next to me Josh put his hands together in a begging mime and mouthed "please"

"I'm not great but I can give it a try." I shrugged. "I'm not going to get any street cried for this but actually I'm better at quizzes."

"Oh yes, she's a keeper!" Josh chucked and clapped a hand over his heart. "A woman after my own heart."

"You're a quiz fan?" I asked. "Is there anything you can't do?"

"Lots of things!" he laughed.

"He's annoyingly talented, is he?" I said to Monica.

"I know, right!" she laughed. "Such a shame he's a horrible person."

"Ugly inside and out." I joked.

"Hey! I'm right here!" Josh piped up. "Don't talk about me like I'm a piece of meat!"

Me and Monica continued to giggle and tease him. Later between scenes he took my elbow and lead me aside a little bit. I presumed we touched a nerve with the playful teasing.

"I'm sorry if I upset you earlier. I didn't mean to." I said quietly.

He waved a hand dismissively. "It's ok, I know. I just want to get your number." he said.

"What?" my heart skipped a beat.

"So I can text you the plans for tonight." he clarified. "I've booked a lane at a place in Manhattan that looks pretty cool. No screaming kids there after 5 on a Friday."

He continued to tell me about it as I rustled through my bag for some paper. I wrote my number on a page in my note book, tore it out and gave it to him. He also scribbled down some details on a loose page.

"That's my number and that's the place we're going tonight. We'll start at 7 so get there a little early for shoes and all that jazz." he explained. He spotted my little smirk at his song reference and chuckled. "I think I can guess what show tune you're singing in your head now. Good luck getting that out of your head."

Later on I smiled to myself as I saved his number in my phone. My tummy did a little flip with excitement when I thought about the evening's plans. The friends I'd made since moving to New York all worked in theatres so they were busy in evenings. New friends in a new job normally scared me but this was different.

...

That evening I got the subway from my tiny apartment to the bowling alley. I pulled my coat tight around me as I climbed the steps up onto street level and checked the directions on my phone again. It wasn't too far on foot and I was awkwardly early so I walked slowly. I was very pleased to get inside to the warmth and even more pleased when I saw I wasn't the first one there.

Monica and Josh were talking at the bar, she waved when she saw me and beckoned me over.

"Hey English!" she greeted me and pulled me into a hug.

"Oh, you're so cold!" Josh said sweetly as he gave me a hug, rubbing my back in an attempt to warm me up. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Just a coke please." I smiled.

Once the rest of our "team" arrived we checked our coats and bags into the cloakroom and collected shoes. I'd always felt a bit weird about wearing shoes so many other people had worn before me. Who knows where their feet had been. The shoes were always a bit too slippy on the shiny floors too.

Right on cue as soon as my feet touched the smooth floor I nearly slipped. I was so embarrassed about being so clumsy and skidded my way over to our lane.

I was picking a bowling ball from the rack of balls to try when Josh skidded up next to me and collided slightly with the rack. I gave a little giggle.

"Steady on, old bean." I teased.

"I feel like James Brown when I wear slippy shoes." he joked and hummed Get On Up while slipping around.

His flailing was adorable and made me laugh so hard I snorted. My snort then made him laugh harder. The two of us giggled away.

"You'll make me snort again!" I wheezed.

"That was the best! So cute!" he laughed.

"I was doing such a good job hiding my weirdo until, gaddammit, you had to go and make me snort! Why are you so funny? Meanwhile I'm like Bambi on ice." I said.

"Don't worry Bambi, I like weird." he told me.

Our "team" got on very well, cheered each other on and gave high fives. I felt like I was probably getting the lowest scores of our team when suddenly I got a strike and gave a little squeal of surprise.

"First strike of the game goes to English!" Monica announced and gave me a double high five.

"Woohoo!" I cheered. "I didn't know I could!"

The next player up was Josh and we could tell he was concentrating in hope of getting a strike too. Me and Monica looked at each other for a second then just before he let go of the ball told him "don't choke it loser!" in perfect time together.

"Hey! Play nice, ladies!" he called over his shoulder.

When my next turn came I stepped up, took a deep breathe and threw the ball. Another strike! How was I doing this? I squealed and threw my hands in the air.

"I thought you said you weren't great. You're amazing!" Josh told me as he gave me a hug and lifted me up slightly.

"It's my secret superpower, I guess?" I joked. "Now go get 'em James Brown!"

Later on as the others were playing Monica whispered to me "Josh totally has a crush on you."

I just laughed and dismissed it.