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
january '89
The sun was bright but softened by the crisp air as Dylan and her friends arrived at the high school's tennis courts. Excitement buzzed in the medium sized crowd, with students and parents alike gathering to watch the boys' varsity team face off against one of the other top sports competing schools in California. The first match of the season felt almost like an event, and the bleachers were filled with a good amount of the student body, mostly clusters of friends in support of their friends.
Dylan took a seat beside Katie, who was already waving at Carter as he warmed up on the court. Tiffany and Marissa sat next to them, casually scanning the crowd for familiar faces. Nearby, Carter's girlfriend stood with his parents, looking perfectly at ease in an oversized sweater, chatting with them as if this were just another day.
Katie nudged her, eyes sparkling. "You excited? Eric and Carter are about to crush it."
Dylan smiled, though her mind was a mix of anticipation and nerves. "Yeah. I've never seen a match before, but Eric seems really focused. Like really."
Katie gave her a knowing grin. "Oh, Eric doesn't mess around."
As Dylan took in the sight of the players warming up, she spotted Eric talking with two boys she vaguely recognized from Thanksgiving: Derek and Ben, both part of the varsity lineup. They were laughing, hyping each other up for the match. A few others were there too, players she hadn't met but had seen around the school, blending in seamlessly with their tennis whites and focused expressions. The boys' confidence was almost palpable, an easy camaraderie that she found both impressive and intimidating. But then again, maybe this was just how matches were.
Just then, her gaze drifted to the opposite side of the bleachers, where Nicholas sat with his parents, Antonio and Sofia. Nicholas looked effortlessly relaxed, though his sharp eyes scanned the court, likely evaluating every move as if they were his own. Sofia had on a chic pair of sunglasses and a smile that somehow seemed both warm and calculating. Antonio's expression was as stoic as always, watching with an air of quiet authority, a presence that somehow commanded respect even from the stands.
Dylan felt an odd mixture of tension and excitement seeing Nicholas here. He caught her gaze for a fleeting second, and his eyebrow arched slightly, a subtle acknowledgment of her presence before he returned his attention to his brother. She couldn't quite decipher the look, but it was enough to send a jolt of electricity through her.
Katie leaned over with an eager look in her eyes. "Okay, Dylan, spill. Has anything new happened with Christian?"
Dylan felt her cheeks warm instantly. She glanced at Tiffany and Marissa, who were both leaning in, clearly just as curious. "Um, sort of," she admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "After his club match we're supposed to hang out I think."
