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
july '89
The air was crisp that night, the kind of summer heat that made you pull your coat off from your shoulders, and the city lights of Bel Air twinkled like a thousand stars. The debutante ball was more than just a rite of passage—it was the event. The finale.
For weeks, Dylan had prepared for this night: the dress fittings, the dance rehearsals, the constant pressure of living up to the expectations of her mother and the club. But as the date drew closer, it became something else entirely. A way to prove herself.
Weeks had passed since the Fourth of July, since that night when the tension between her and Nicholas had been at its peak—since he'd asked her to admit that there was something between them. Something she wasn't sure how to name. It was as though time had slipped by, each day blending into the next without resolution. And here she was now, dressed in a white gown that felt more like armor than elegance, standing at the entrance of the ballroom.
Christian stood by her side, his hand on the small of her back as they greeted their guests. The usual air of smugness was gone from his face, replaced by a tight smile as he adjusted his tie. It was clear he wasn't quite happy with the arrangement, but that didn't matter tonight. His parents sat at the table with hers, laughing and mingling with the other guests. A room full of wealthy, well-dressed individuals who knew nothing about the girl from Springfield that had somehow ended up in their world.
Katie and the others had made their excuses—some bogus, some likely not. Dylan wasn't surprised. They didn't seem to care much about her debutante season, and maybe it wasn't really their thing. But even so, the absence stung, and it stung harder than ever.
Eric was at the event, of course, accompanying another debutante he easily befriended with his time spent at the club. His posture was relaxed, as Dylan was sure he'd been an escort before. His eyes flicked over to Dylan every now and then, offering a brief smile, but he was busy with his own obligations tonight. He wasn't the only one, though—Xavier escorting a different debutante, his laughter filling the air as they made their way across the room.
But what really had her attention—what had her stomach tightening, her heart thudding in a way she couldn't shake—was the one person she hadn't expected to see. Nicholas.
A week ago, during the annual country club summer charity tournament, the competition had been fierce. It wasn't just about tennis. It was about reputation, pride. The tournament had always been a highlight of the summer, where the richest families sent their top players to compete for the prestigious win. Eric and Xavier had teamed up, Christian and Travis, as usual, had paired up to try their hand at glory once again, and then there was Nicholas paired with Carter.
Dylan had watched from the sidelines, barely able to catch her breath as she'd watched Nicholas and Carter effortlessly demolish their opponents. But it was the final showdown that everyone would remember.
