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

A higher power

Bobby was trying to find Johnny after the ceremony and finally spotted him by his locker, looking for the book he needed for the first class, though he doubted that he needed any at the first day after summer at all.

"Hey, man! How did it go?" Bobby asked, his voice low, but not trying to hide the excitement he felt for his best friend to get the chance to meet the famous actor first and before everyone else.

"Hey. What are you talking about?" Johnny asked tersely and didn't even look up.

"You know exactly what I mean! You met him, right?"

"Yeah, I met him. So? There's nothing to talk about, okay?" Johnny said and a way too familiar voice next to him made him flinch.

"Oh. Hey, Johnny. I didn't know this was your locker. This is mine! Guess we're neighbors now, huh?"

It was Daniel. He was on his own, but a bit behind him, a security was watching and keeping the little group of girls, desperately trying to approach him, away.

Johnny couldn't hide how not happy he was about Daniel LaRusso having the locker next to his.
His face was like a mask, but he was screaming internally and Bobby turned around.
"Hi, Daniel. I'm Bobby! It's cool to have you here." he introduced himself and Daniel shook his hand.
"Hi, Bobby. Thanks! Nice to meet you, too! " he smiled and Johnny shut his locker with a bang, turned around and stomped away.

Daniel didn't even look a bit confused and clarified: "He hates me." , when he noticed Bobby's irritated look. "You seem decent though, how come you two are friends?" he asked in a joking way and Bobby looked after Johnny, who was almost out of sight.

"Yeah, right. Ahm, don't worry about him, he really has a bad day. Hey Daniel, why don't you come have lunch with us later? I save you a spot!" he turned around and yelled: "Johnny! Hey, Johnny, wait!"

Bobby caught up to his friend fast, grabbed his arm and pulled him to a place where no one was around to hear them talk.

"What the hell was that, man? Why does he think you hate him?"

Johnny's jaw tensed and he clenched his fists around the book he pressed to his chest.
"It doesn't matter, okay? It's good if he hates me.."

"How is that good? That was your chance to become his first friend around here.."

"Yeah? And if I was his friend, what do you think how long it would take until he finds out where I live and who I am, huh? Did you ever think about that?" Johnny kicked a stone, dropped his head and snorted.

"Dammit, Bobby... I messed it all up.. But I can't be at the same school with the guy I'm writing love letters to! I just can't. He can't ever find out.."

"I'm sorry, Johnny.." Bobby said quietly and regretted that he had invited Daniel to meet them for lunch.

"But hey.. Did you forget that he was the one reaching out to you? That he was the one writing 'love Daniel'? What if he gets exposed? His career would be over within seconds.. So maybe he wouldn't want anyone to find out, either.."

"He only responded to a fan letter. There is no answer yet to my last one. I really doubt that he actually ever planned to start exchanging letters with me. Maybe it's all for the better the way it is now. You know.. He isn't even that gorgeous in real.." Johnny mumbled but Bobby grinned.
"Really?" he asked and Johnny's facade crumbled immediately.

"Who am I kidding, right? I looked right into his beautiful eyes and I swear, I want to drown in them and get lost forever.." Johnny stared into the distance, reliving the moment in his memory and Bobby smiled. He didn't want to say it out loud, but he knew this wasn't over. He always believed in a higher power and here, the universe definitely wanted to tell them something.