"Dear Clarence,..." ~a teen idol story

Just one of the guys

"Do I look good, Mom? Is it too much?" Daniel looked at his reflection in the mirror with doubt.
He was dressed like a Rock Star in his washed out bluejeans, a plain black t-shirt and a dark brown, well worn leather jacket. He had put on all his favorite rings and a simple silver chain necklace.
He was also wearing the bracelet he got from Clarence. It somehow made him feel like he wasn't all alone. Now he tried to decide which hat was the best to his outfit.

"Honey, you look gorgeous.. for a magazine shooting or touring with your alternative rock band. If you want to blend in, you might try a little less?"

Daniel sighed and looked lost, but Lucille turned him around and took off the hat. She ruffled his hair a little and made him switch the leather jacket with one of his old plaid shirts and also removed the necklace.
"Three rings can stay, you pick. Oh and I like this." she mentioned and tugged at the bracelet.

"That.. yeah, I got that from my pen pal.." he smiled softly and sighed.

"No reply yet?"

"I doubt he even got my letter, yet. A letter to China would probably arrive faster than one to the nearby neighborhood."

Lucille laughed. "You know you could just wait by his apartment until he comes out, right?"

"Yeah, I know." Daniel said and looked back into the mirror, pulling his clothes into place and correcting his hair.
"It just doesn't feel right. He wrote that he's glad he would never actually meet me. I don't think he's comfortable with openly having a crush on a guy. I also doubt his name is Clarence.. I think if I push this, I might scare him away.. And if the wrong person finds out and this goes public, that's the end of my carrier. But if I can have a little bit of romance in a letter, that would make me very happy.." he said quietly and dropped his gaze.

"Daniel.." Lucille said and waited for her son to look her in the eyes. "If you fall in love.. No matter if it's this guy or another.. You know I will do everything to protect you, right? You can bring him here and I'll make sure you will be safe here." she assured and Daniel smiled. "Thanks, Mom. It means a lot that you support me no matter what.."

"You heard of my friend who had a friend with a son who had a special friend and the family banished him and he committed suicide? That won't happen to my son and that also counts for your friend. Under my roof, people don't get judged for who they love. You're doing right with not pressuring him. I really hope you two get to know each other through this and that you will find at least a friend in him."

Daniel wiped away a tear and nodded. "I love you so much.." he whispered and they shared an intense hug.
"I love you, too." she mumbled into his hair, "I love you so much and I just want you to be happy, okay? Never forget that."

"I won't. Thank you so much, Mom.. I think we should go, I don't wanna be late on my first day.."

-

"You're crazy, man!" Johnny argued and Tommy shook his head. "No, I swear, I saw Daniel LaRusso! On the campus!!"

"In your dreams!" Johnny mocked and high-fived with Bobby, both laughing and only Bobby knowing that Johnny did this to overshadow his own crush on Daniel LaRusso.

The group of five Cobras and one Cobra girlfriend walked up to the school main building, none of them ready to say good bye to the summer and even less in the mood for the speech in the auditorium that was waiting for all the students.

"It's so weird.. why does it feel like yesterday when we left this place to be free and now.." Ali mumbled, while leaning against Tommy, who had his fingers linked with hers all the way.