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
december '88
The cafeteria buzzed with excitement, the air filled with chatter and the clinking of lunch trays. Dylan sat at the corner of the table, a half-eaten turkey sandwich in front of her, listening as her friends animatedly discussed their college aspirations and future lives within a year.
"I can't believe we're finally here, applying to colleges. Ah! It feels unreal!" Katie exclaimed, her blue eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, "UCLA in just what? Eight months? I can't imagine being anywhere else."
Marissa rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her soda. "Please, like your mom would let you go anywhere else. You're basically expected to go to the same school as she did."
"What the deal with the UC's anyways?" Dylan asked, not understanding the newfound wave the school has on them.
"Okay, so here's the deal with the UCs," Katie started, leaning in closer to Dylan and the other girls, her voice animated. "There are actually nine of them, but the big ones are UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego. Each has its own vibe, but they're all pretty amazing."
Tiffany grinned, "Yes and UC Berkeley is sooooo it."
Katie laughed lightly. "No way! UCLA is super laid-back and artsy, and it's right in LA, so there's always something going on. You can be at the beach in like twenty minutes."
"And UC Berkeley?" Dylan asked, intrigued. "What's the deal with that one?"
"Oh, Berkeley is like a real school-school," Katie explained, her enthusiasm growing. "I've heard the campus is stunning, too, with all the trees and the hills since it's like in SF. But it's a little more competitive. They say if you can survive Berkeley, you can handle anything!"
Tiffany nodded, her eyes wide. "Urgh, what if I don't get in? What about the others? Should I apply to San Diego?"
Katie shrugged playfully. "SD is more laid-back, too! It's beautiful there, and I think they focus a lot on science and research. The campus is right by the beach too! If you're into biology or engineering Dylan, it's a great place."
Dylan leaned back, absorbing it all but growing intrigued. "So, how does the application process work for these schools?"
"Oh, it's kind of wild," Katie said, rolling her eyes. "You apply to the UC system as a whole. You can choose up to nine campuses, which is awesome, but also super annoying because you have to keep track of everything."
"Sounds exhausting," Dylan admitted, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over her. "What about essays? Have you guys written yours yet?"
Katie groaned nodding, "I've been staring at my draft for days!"
"Ugh, I can relate," Marissa said, rolling her eyes. "I'm still working on mine for Cal Tech, and it feels impossible to find the right words."
Dylan listened, feeling the pressure mounting. "I just wish I knew where I wanted to go. I have a few on my list I guess..."
