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
november '88
Nicholas kicked the front door closed behind him, shaking off the late afternoon heat. He had just returned from a frustrating afternoon hanging out with his friends—games, jokes, and the usual bravado—but nothing could shake the discontent swirling in his gut.
As he stepped into the house, the scent of food wafted through the air, pulling him toward the living room. He expected to find his parents watching TV or maybe even working, but as he drew closer, the laughter that echoed from the room stopped him cold.
He paused outside the doorway, heart dropping when he spotted Dylan sitting cross-legged on the couch, her books sprawled out around her. Eric was seated beside her, focused on his notes as he explained something about calculus. Their heads were close, and they both had that relaxed, studious vibe that seemed to draw them in like a little bubble of comfort. A pang of annoyance shot through him, a tight knot of irritation and confusion in his chest.
Nicholas leaned against the doorframe of the living room, arms crossed as he watched his brother and Dylan sit together. "What a lovely study date," he muttered under his breath, though he knew they were just working on homework. Still, the sight of them together irritated him more than he wanted to admit.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Nicholas asked, his tone sharper than he intended as he stepped into the room.
"Yo Nick," Eric called out, glancing up from his notes. "You want to join us? We're just going over some math stuff."
"No thanks," Nicholas shot back, forcing a casual tone. "I wouldn't want to interrupt your little study party." He forced a grin, masking the irritation bubbling beneath the surface.
Dylan looked up, her eyes narrowing. "What?" she let out a chuckle to not make it sound rude.
"Nothing," he replied, shrugging. "Just observing how easily you and my brother are getting along."
"Jealous much?" she quipped, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Hardly," he scoffed, though he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. "Just wondering why you prefer studying with him instead of, I don't know, someone who actually needs the help."
Dylan rolled her eyes, a habitual gesture that was starting to annoy him. "Eric actually makes studying fun. It's more than I can say for you considering you're asleep half the time during English."
Nicholas fought the urge to snap back. Instead, he leaned casually against the wall, feigning indifference. "Well, I guess we all have our talents."
At that moment, their parents, Sofia and Antonio passed by the door but once spotting an extra body they walked by again and entered the room. Sofia smiled at Dylan, her warmth genuine. "Dylan! It's so nice to see you here again. You're becoming quite the star in our home with how much Eric talks about you."
