Spencer was typing on his laptop, his mind on preparing for their next destination when Trina exited the restroom with a playful smile on her face that made Spencer feel a little nervous when he noticed it.
"What's up?" He asked, giving her a glance before returning his attention to the laptop.
"I know where I want to go next and it'll be super fun and maybe even a little creepy, but very very Cassadiney."
Spencer couldn't help but laugh. "Is that even a word?"
"It is now."
"Alright. What is this idea of yours, Trina-girl of mine?" Spencer chuckled. His girlfriend was just too adorable, he couldn't stand it. He put the laptop away as she approached and pulled her down onto his lap, just wanting to hold this beautiful girl in his arms. "Tell me all of your ideas and aspirations."
"We can go to Bangar!" Trina happily grinned, rubbing her hands together.
"Bangar? May I ask why? What's in Bangar?" Spencer frowned, feeling confused.
Trina looked at him as if he had two heads. "You have got to be kidding me? Please tell me that you're kidding."
Spencer simply shrugged. "I'm most definitely not kidding. Why are you so interested in Bangar Maine?"
"Do you know how to read?"
"Trina, of course, I do!" Spencer laughed. "Come on, just tell me. What is in that city that you want to see so bad that you're accusing me of being illiterate for not knowing!"
Trina rolled her eyes and tsked. Her boyfriend really had no culture, did he? "The home of the greatest horror writer in the world is there! Hello! Stephen King! Most of his stories are based on that town, especially Derry! You know, from It? I want to go and take a picture in front of his house! It's touristy, but it'd be awesome and wouldn't it be great if we even got a chance to meet the man himself! Spencer, we can't come to Maine and not see Stephen King's house!"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am. Besides, it'd be fitting, don't you think? With how we met? You dousing me with fake blood, making me look like a scene out of his book Carrie?"
Spencer winced at the memory and then sighed. "Alright, alright. The next stop is Bangar Maine."
"Good boy," Trina grinned leaning in for a kiss.
…..
Bangor, Maine
Spencer smiled as he led Trina over to the van marked SK Tour. He had arranged for a private tour to show them not only Stephen King's house but also the different parts of the city that had inspired the man's work. He had been disappointed to find out that Stephen King no longer resided in the city. He had hoped to make Trina's dream of meeting the man come true, but that was okay. Maybe someday he could arrange that, but for now, he was looking forward to seeing all the places that had inspired the genius storyteller.
"Are we sure that Mr. King isn't a secret Cassadine? I mean...the stories he came up with," Spencer chuckled.
"I am quite sure that he's not. But it'd make sense if he was," Trina giggled, kissing the hand that was gently gripping hers. She couldn't help but think about how perfectly their hands fit together. Like they were made for each other. She sighed and shook her head, wondering when she had become such a romantic.
"What is it?" Spencer asked, spotting her head shake.
"I just realized that I've become quite a romantic in the past several months. I just now thought about how perfectly our hands fit together…"
"Like we were made for each other, huh?" Spencer smiled, returning the kiss to her hand.
"See. Now we're even thinking alike," Trina giggled.
The tour guide finally arrived and Spencer and Trina were happily ushered into the van. Trina nearly bounced in her seat in excitement as the tour began.
"The first stop is at the cemetery that had not only inspired Pet Cemetary and was used for filming the movie, but take a look at the headstones and you may see some familiar names," the guide began.
"Pet cemetery...I remember that one. The movie gave me nightmares for weeks. My father's bed was mine and I drove him crazy," Spencer laughed. "Then when my fish died, my father wanted to set up a pet cemetery for it and I freaked out. No way was I going to have that to happen."
"Why am I not surprised that your dad would let you watch that?" Trina laughed, amused by the story.
"Hey, I was very mature for my age," Spencer playfully pouted.
"My first Stephen King book happened when I was fifteen. Let's just say that my mom kept a tight leash on my entertainment choices. But when I hit fifteen and could read what I want within reason, to her shock and dismay, I went straight into a Stephen King phase."
"Really? What was your first Stephen King book?" Spencer asked.
"IT, of course. And I watched the Tim Curry mini series I don't know how many times. You can guess my mom's reaction when the new movies were made. Of course, I had to see them. I prefer the mini-series, but I have to say I like the new movies too."
"I like the ending of the new movie. It had a nice message for kids who have night terrors and phobia," Spencer sighed, remembering his own childhood and how scary some of it had been. Especially meeting his scary great-grandmother. "The more they stood up to the clown, the smaller he got until they could destroy him for good. Too bad that couldn't work for Helena Cassadine."
"Was she really that scary?" Trina gave him a skeptical look.
"She was terrifying! She was someone straight out of Mr. King's novels!"
"Here we are! Pet Cemetary!" The guide announced parking the van. "Come, I'll show you some of the popular sights."
Trina and Spencer walked hand in hand, following the guide into the cemetery. Both Spencer and Trina looked around at the weather-beaten tombstones with wide, hungry eyes. Trina especially noticed how silent it was and the heavy atmosphere that indeed belonged in a horror movie.
"Come over here to this tombstone. Do you recognize the name?" the guide gave a knowing grin.
"Georgie! I always wondered how he came up with that name! Did he get a lot of his character names from here?" Trina excitedly questioned.
"Let's just say that this place was a great inspiration for Stephen's muse."
"Spencer, let's take a selfie! Joss will love this!" Trina giggled and got in the regular position with Spencer and shot a picture.
"Right, this way is another character," The guide led the way to another tombstone that made both Trina and Spencer burst out in laughter.
"Carrie White. Why am I not surprised?" Spencer shook his head.
"Is that your favorite movie or book?" The guide questioned, wondering why the couple were so amused.
"No, um...let's just say that thanks to Mr. Cassadine there, the pig blood scene represents how we met each other," Trina giggled. "Let's just say, I can relate to Carrie somewhat."
"Except, thankfully for some of us, Trina does not have the power to move things with her mind."
"Oh my god, just think about if I did?" Trina giggled.
They continued on through the cemetery and took more pictures of places that were in the movie. Finally, it was time to move on.
The guide drove to what looked like a river surrounded by trees. There was a little walkway for people to stroll along the stream. Looking at it, Trina suddenly knew what the place represented.
"The barrens!" She gasped excitedly.
"You've got it!" The guide grinned and laughed as Trina took out her phone and pulled Spencer into the position for a selfie.
"Ok, say he thrust his fist against the post and still insists he sees the ghost!" Trina giggled.
"Huh?" Spencer frowned, confused.
"Quote from the novel," Trina happily winked.
Spencer just rolled his eyes and smiled as Trina took the picture.
There were other landmarks that Trina and Spencer happily saw and posed in front of, like the Paul Bunyan statue, and the sewer that had inspired the Georgie death scene. That one had both Spencer and Trina confused.
"I don't get it. In the movie, the sewer drain didn't look anything like that...and how did Pennywise get Georgie with the grate on like that?" Spencer scratched his head.
"True. I kind of like the movie's version better…"
Next was the Thomas Hill Standpipe. Of course, Trina and Spencer had to take a selfie with it in the background.
"Keep an eye out for balloons," Trina warned, flashing a bright smile.
"Oh please. No one wants to float," Spencer rolled his eyes and laughed when Trina turned to look at him. "What? I saw the movie too!"
Finally, Spencer and Trina found themselves in front of one of the gates of Stephen King's home. The one with the bats on it. Spencer grinned and nodded in approval.
"This is cool, the man lived in style."
"It's very Cassadine-esque isn't it?" Trina wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest as he took a selfie with the mansion in the background.
"Very. I wonder if I can buy it."
"Don't you dare! You heard the guide! It's an archive for his works and for future writers to come write! That is so cool. I wish I was a writer!"
"I wrote a few things before," Spencer confessed with a small shrug. "Nothing too big or fancy, but something. A small little horror story about masks."
"Really? Can I read it?" Trina asked, becoming curious. She had no idea that Spencer liked to write.
"I kind of threw it away. I thought it was no good."
"Oh, Spencer. That's too bad. Have you written anything else?"
"I did...but...I'm not ready to show anyone just yet...I probably never will be."
Trina simply nodded, understanding Spencer's reasons. Writing as an art form was great...but it was also very personal. One had to be ready to share their written thoughts. Maybe someday, Spencer will feel comfortable enough to share his. She could only hope because it'd be wrong of her to push.
"Is there anything else on the Stephen King list to check out before we search for something to eat?" Spencer asked, feeling his stomach rumble with hunger.
"Oooh, there's a truck stop right outside of town. It's rumored that's where he got the idea for Trucks, which turned into the movie Maximum Overdrive. Let's check it out!"
Spencer laughed, giving his girlfriend one last kiss before heading back to the tour van that would take them back to his car.
Once back in his car, Spencer put the information that the tour guide gave him into the GPS. "What's the place called again?"
"Dysarts Restaurant and Truck Stop."
"Ok, here we go. Are you hungry, babe?"
"I'm starved! But no lobster, please! I have had enough lobster rolls to last me a lifetime!"
Spencer just laughed and wrapped one arm around Trina's shoulders as he stirred with the other. "OK, no lobster. Got ya."
It didn't take them long to find the restaurant. Trina looked around, noticing the tanks where trucks fueled up and the well-lit restaurant itself. It did indeed have a vibe to it that spoke of a place that belonged in a Stephen King novel.
"It looks like a restaurant out of the 1960s," Spencer got out of the car.
"According to the website, it's been around for exactly that long," Trina grinned, taking his hand.
The couple left the restaurant full and satisfied. Trina had a chicken pot pie, while Spencer dined on fish and chips. Both of them had a huge slice of blueberry pie for dessert.
Spencer laughed as Trina yawned as they returned to the car. "Someone's sleepy."
"It's been a long, exciting day. This is a long, exciting trip. I love it! Thank you for all of this," Trina smiled, taking Spencer's hand in hers, real affection shining in her eyes.
Spencer kissed her hand, wearing a smile of his own. "I think we needed this. Time for just me and you. Time to just be us."
"So where to next? We've seen all that I wanted to see here in Bangar."
"Portland here we come. Then I think that's it for Maine," Spencer started the ignition and pulled out of the restaurant's parking lot.
"Should we return to Port Charles after that?"
"No. After Maine, it's New Hampshire….I'm not sure what to do there, but I'm going to look up what we can see and experience. Not to worry."
"I never worry," Trina smiled, closing her eyes as sleep began to take her. "Not when I'm with you."
