In 1988 when Dylan Montgomery moves to Beverly Hills after her mother remarries, she must navigate the challenges of fitting into a glamorous but daunting upper-class life. Living across from the charmingly cocky Nicholas and his introspective broth...
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UPPER CLASS | cherriasian
october '88
Dylan stood in front of the large mirror in Katie's room, smoothing down the hem of her costume—a makeshift black cat ensemble Katie had insisted on, complete with a pair of felt ears and a drawn-on nose and whiskers. She hadn't been overly excited about the idea of going to a haunted house, especially dressed like this, but Katie's enthusiasm was contagious. Plus, after the tense relations within her home walls, Dylan figured a night out with a group of friends might help her feel more at ease. A distraction of sorts.
Katie twirled in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the sparkly tutu of her fairy costume. "What do you think?" she asked, grinning. "Is it too much?"
"It's perfect," Dylan said, smiling back. Katie had a way of making even the most over-the-top outfits look effortlessly cool. But that was just Katie.
"Of course it's perfect," Tiffany chimed in from the bed, where she was lounging in her witch costume. She hadn't bothered with any elaborate makeup like Katie or Dylan, just a pointed hat and a black dress that fit like it was made for her. "You look like you're about to steal someone's boyfriend at a party," she giggled.
Katie winked at her in the mirror. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time," she joked, but it didn't seem much like one to Dylan. With the way she speaks about Carter's and Nicholas's girlfriends, it would be something she would expect to happen or have happened to say the least.
Marissa, standing by the window adjusting her vampire cape, shot a look at Katie. "Speaking of stealing boyfriends, what's the deal with Carter?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You've been quiet about him lately."
Katie waved a dismissive hand, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—annoyance, maybe? "Carter's whatever," she said lightly. "I'm focused on homecoming right now. And these private school boys..."
"Yeah, yeah—" Marissa was struggling with her costume across the room, her face twisted in frustration as she tried to zip up the back. "Can someone give me a hand? This thing is impossible!" she called out stuffing.
Tiffany rushed over to help. "Ugh, Marissa! You're going to look so cute!"
Once Marissa was finally ready, they all stood together, their costumes an eclectic mix of spooky and glamorous. They could hardly contain their excitement; their hearts racing at the thought of the night ahead. Dylan stared at her reflection in the mirror, trying her best to find some ounce of confidence within herself, but she wasn't used to having this much energy in one room. It was like she didn't even need to be there.
"Zach is picking us up soon," Katie said, glancing at the clock. "He better hurry. I can't wait anymore!"
Zach was the boy Marissa had been crushing on for weeks who went to Westlake, one of the few prestigious prep schools in the area. He had that effortless charm, with tousled hair and an easy smile that drew everyone in. He offered to pick the girls up since Katie's house was on the way, and everyone else would meet up at the haunted house.
