Multifandom Imagines

Ben Cook ~ Training {Part 1}

You're 13 in this one-shot, and you're about 5"8'.

Here I am, training with the Newsies for the 2017 Live Recording. And that means training with the big-shots like Jeremy Jordan, Kara Lindsay, Ben Fankhauser, Ben Cook, etc. It's a shocker I haven't died of Ben Cook syndrome yet.

Yes, I read the ad. And yes, I know what it said. It read something about a girl between the ages of 16 and 25 to play the role of Sniper, since the actor who played Sniper had to leave. And yes, I know I'm only 13.

But I auditioned anyway, lying about my age. And apparently, I got the part. I don't know why, considering how I don't know how to flip, dance, or do anything athletic. But Jeff C was nice and decided to cast me as the understudy. I may be the understudy, but I still needed to learn.

Today's my first day training with them. I was walking along a street in California, occasionally glancing at my phone for directions to the Pantages Theatre. I glanced at my phone for about the millionth time, then turned a corner and bumped into someone. I staggered back, almost falling because of my backpack, and quickly caught my balance. The person I bumped into wasn't as lucky however. They fell to the ground with an "Oof!"

I looked at the person I bumped into and realized that it was Joshua Burrage. I gasped, then quickly ran forward and offered an arm to him. He smiled and grasped my wrist, my hand holding his wrist, and I pulled him up.

"Sorry!" I immediately told him. "I didn't see where I was going, and I had something to get to in about--" I rambled, looking at my watch. "20 minutes. I was also--"

Josh laughed. "Okay, I get it. You're trying to get somewhere." he said.

He looked closer at me and his eyes widened. "Aren't you that girl that auditioned for the Live Recording of Newsies?"

I nodded, smiling. "That's me!"

"I didn't get to see you much since I was somewhere else, but I saw that some other cast members posted something about you being the new Sniper." he explained, taking an even closer look at me. "And you seem a little young."

"Yeah. I'm actually 13, not 16, like I told Jeff. But I'm pretty sure Jeff saw through my lie." I replied, nodding.

"Really?" he said, looking surprised. "Come on. We can talk while we walk. Besides, I'll help you find the theater faster than you could by yourself."

"Thanks."

"Hey, we're cool. Anyway, you did pretty good at auditions." he replied. I raised an eyebrow at him. "Cast members." he quickly explained off of my look.

"I sucked." I said. "I had no idea what I was doing."

"Well then, you did pretty good for an amateur. I'm Josh, by the way." he said, holding out his hand to shake.

I shook it, smiling. On the inside, my inner fangirl was hyperactive and screaming and basically causing a ruckus. "I know. You're pretty famous. I'm (Y/N)."

~~~~~~~~~

About 5 minutes later, we found ourselves at the Pantages Theatre. Josh walked me around the backstage door instead of going through the front door of the theater. He walked through the door, and the security guard went to stop me, but Josh intervened.

"She's with me." he quickly explained.

"Where's her pass?" the security guard asked.

"She just got here and she doesn't know much. So I'm showing her around."

The security guard nodded, then let us through.

Josh took me to get my pass first, then took me to all the dressing rooms. He knocked on the first door he saw, and a moment later, Kara Lindsay's face appeared.

"Hello, Josh!" she called out cheerfully. "And who's this?"

"I'm (Y/N)." I said, smiling and offering a hand to shake.

Kara shook it, then opened the door wider. "Come in. I assume you're using this room while you're playing Sniper's understudy."

I nodded, then stepped in and dropped my bag off. "Uh, Kara? Ms. Lindsay? I don't know what to call you."

"Kara's fine."

"Right. I was going to take a tour with Josh, so....." I went on.

"Go right ahead." she replied. "A tour is always needed to know where you're going."

~~~~~~~~~

Josh and I walked through the halls knocking on each door and having me be introduced to the cast members. Finally, we reached the last door.

"This is my dressing room." he said as he swung open the door. "It's not much, but with Ben and a few other guys in it, it's very lively."

Josh waved me in, and I stepped into the room, marveling at its coziness. Then I looked at each of the dressing stations, all decked out with their pictures and Fansie gifts and etc. I sat down in one of the chairs, then loudly sighed.

Josh chuckled. "Your feet are killing you." he said, rather than asked.

I nodded. "I haven't walked this much since D.C."

"It'll take some getting used to."

"Yes, it will." said a new voice in the doorway. "Especially with all the dancing and flipping and stuff that we do."

I whipped my head around and saw none other than Ben Tyler Cook himself standing in the doorway. My eyes widened, and I facepalmed myself.

"Are you okay?" Josh asked me.

"Just fine. Juuuuuuuuust fine." I replied, taking my hand away from my face. I looked up at Ben and smiled. "Hi, I'm (Y/N). Nice to meet you, Ben."

"Hi, (Y/N)." Ben said, waving.