Chapter 1.

"Dialogue

'' Thoughts

() clarifications

Being born again is something you don't expect, but being born into the life of someone as dear as I am now even less so. My previous life matters little now; all the mistakes and good/bad times I had are no longer relevant at this moment.

My name is Alexander Prescott van der Bilt, and if the last name doesn't ring a bell, yes, I am a cousin of Nate Archibald, a character who is now, to me, a real person from the show Gossip Girl. One I'd rather not be introduced to if it were up to me.

I was born the first-born son of Charles Van der Bilt and Victoria Elizabeth Getty. Unlike other aristocrats, celebrities and billionaires who populate glamorous New York, my family has kept some distance from that madness, though it always comes splashing in.

Yes, we are rich, filthy rich. Even if I wanted to spend 1% of the family wealth, I'd have enough trouble doing so.

When I was conceived, it seems my parents were still immersed in the elitist bubble of the highest order, surrounded by Waldorfs, Morgans, Lehmans...and more members of America's highest families. But realizing what a lousy life they were living in their early twenties, they decided to focus on business and family. They moved out of the Getty home, a tradition for generations, and we moved to California, exactly to a house, or mansion you might call it, in Orange County.

There, my mother focused on the entertainment and media industry, while my father created a technology and electronics branch for the family on the West Coast. They did well, more than well, and they had me. Since then, we've been happy, until the drama hit... but first of all, let's review how I've been doing so far.

2002. Orlando Country. USA. At the Van der Bilt House - Getty.

"Mom, seriously, do I have to go to Grandpa's birthday again? It's super boring. I have nothing to do there," I tell my mom with some frustration.

"I know, honey, but it is what it is. Besides, your grandpa will be excited to see you, to see how you've grown this year. You're already 12 years old, honey," my mother replies in a reassuring voice. "You're already so big... It seems like only yesterday I was holding you in my arms," she adds, hugging me and smelling my hair. "Your newborn baby smell is gone," she comments strangely.

"Besides, you get to play soccer with your cousin Nate and your cousin Tripp," my dad comments.

"But it's just that everyone there is so spoiled. I could stay here reading comics with Seth," I insist with puppy dog eyes.

"Seth will be fine, and so will you there with the whole family. You do that for me, okay honey?" my mother asks.

"It's okay," I mumble. "I'm doing it for you and daddy."

After that, we walk out of the lounge with the suitcases until some bodyguards pick them up and put them in a separate SUV from the one we were going to use, while we get into the limo. We arrived at John Wayne Airport and took the private plane from my father's company to New York.

< --- > 

2002. Over some US state. Van der Bilt Technologies private plane.

"So, how's school going, son?" my father asks me, pushing the New York Times out of his sight.

"You know, more of the same. I'm ahead in Advanced Calculus and Advanced Biology. I've also signed up for Professor Andrew Ng's club on Thursday afternoons. He was recruited from Stanford, and there are only 10 spots in his club, and I got picked," I tell him excitedly.

"Ah, yes, I know him. A brilliant man. I might recruit him for some research for the company," my father comments cheerfully.

"You should! His study on artificial intelligence is very promising, but I think he still has a long way to go to meet expectations, especially in hardware technology," I add with some knowledge of my past and present life.

"Oh, my little genius, how sweet you are when you speak with such elaborate words," my mom says to me as he pinches my cheeks.

"You always say the same thing, Mom. You still can't get used to it."

"I know, honey, but it is what it is. So suck it up while I give you love," she replies as she shares a look with my father.

"But now that you're old enough and so smart, let's tell you the reality of what goes on at parties and gatherings that tend to take place in certain circles, you know, where there's a lot of money in the accounts of the people who attend," my mother says with seriousness in her gaze.

"Alcohol, vices and even drugs are the most common things you're going to find at many of these parties. We tell you this because we were young too and we were caught off guard. But since we didn't know how to oppose this, we fell into the vicious circle of excesses, dangerous people and conflicts," my father explains sadly.

"And we don't want it to happen to you too. We don't tell you to go to parties and so on, we want you to have a good time in the future, but without losing your mind, being the way you are right now," my mother adds.

"I know, mom, dad. I promise I won't do that kind of thing," I say with a reassuring smile. "I'm too busy learning things, besides, I find the attitude of the Upper East Side and OC kids a bummer."

"Well, so you say now. When you talk to Summer or Blair you seem to get along with them, huh?" my dad interjects in an incriminating little voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about.

< --- > 

2002. JFK Airport, New York.

The flight was uneventful, and soon we were descending over the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. As we prepared to land, I felt my excitement building. I knew the atmosphere at the Van der Bilt mansion during my grandfather's birthday would be anything but boring, but I would still rather have stayed in California reading comics with Seth.

Once on dry land, we were met by an entourage of chauffeurs and bodyguards waiting for us on the tarmac. My father took care of the logistical details while my mother and I made our way to the limousine that would take us to the mansion.

I watched the window as we drove across Queens to the suburbs. I vaguely remembered the social events I had witnessed in years past: the ostentatious elegance, the superficial conversations, and the envious glances from some distant relatives.

Envious? Yes, many were envious that my parents had reformed their lives without having to lick the asses of many in order to get some money out of their pockets. It was the difference between a real family like the one I had with my parents and the family like the one we were meeting today.

Finally, we arrived at the imposing Van der Bilt mansion. As I stepped out of the limousine I was greeted by the hustle and bustle of the party going on inside and outside. The sound of music and laughter echoed in the air as guests mingled in the garden, toasting with glasses of champagne and enjoying each other's company.

My cousins Nate and Tripp came over to welcome me, with friendly smiles and pats on the back. Despite my initial reservations, I was comforted to see familiar faces in the crowd. Maybe, just maybe, this grandpa's birthday wouldn't be so boring after all.

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