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
august '89
The evening had settled into a quiet, almost reflective calm as the last traces of sunlight faded over Beverly Hills. Nicholas had been pacing back and forth in his room for at least half an hour, trying to find the right words. Now, as he approached Eric sitting on the backyard porch, he felt the weight of everything pressing down on him. Tomorrow, they'd all leave for college, and the truth could no longer be kept in the shadows. He had to tell his brother—not just about his thing with Dylan, but about everything that had been building for the past few months.
He didn't want to hide anything from Eric. He trusted him more than anyone, and this wasn't just about Dylan; this was about their future, their lives, their family. If he didn't come clean now, it would only get harder.
Eric was reading a book, his face lit by the dim glow of the porch lights, looking as if he were in his own world. Nicholas took a deep breath and sat down next to him, the quiet rustling of the evening breeze mixing with the tension in the air. He waited for a moment, unsure of how to start, but he knew there was no avoiding it.
"You got a minute?" Nicholas asked, his voice calm but laced with uncertainty.
Eric looked up, sensing the seriousness in his tone. He nodded, closing his book shut and placing it down. "Yeah, what's up?"
Nicholas leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes staring out into the quiet street as he gathered his thoughts. "I need to tell you something. And I know I should've done this sooner, but... I don't know. I've been putting it off. I just need you to hear this from me before we leave tomorrow."
Eric gave him a nod of encouragement, his expression softening. "Whatever it is, I'm listening."
Nicholas let out a long breath, then blurted it out, the words hanging heavy in the air. "Dylan and I... we've been seeing each other secretly for a while now."
Eric's eyebrows lifted in surprise, but he didn't say anything right away. He sat there, quiet for a moment, letting the words settle. Nicholas continued, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
"I know, I should've told you before. But this... it's complicated. You know how our parents are. They'd lose their minds if they found out. And our friends..."
Eric turned to him, his eyes filled with understanding. "I figured something was going on. You've been... different. More distracted lately." He paused, then chuckled. "I mean, it's obvious you've been into her. You're usually good at hiding things, but when it's Dylan? It's like a whole different side of you comes out."
Nicholas let out a relieved sigh. "Yeah. This isn't some fling or whatever. She's important to me, Eric. I just..."
Eric nodded, glancing away for a second, then back at his brother. "How long has this been going on?"
