Chapter 28 – Back To School
Spencer came downstairs to refill his water glass and found Laura and Kevin seated at the table in the living room. They were looking at a piece of paper with worried expressions on their faces.
Laura: Spencer!
Spencer: Hello Grandmother.
Kevin: How are you feeling?
Spencer: My head hurts like hell, but I suppose this is my punishment for taking that pill.
Laura: Your punishment?
Spencer: I knew I shouldn't have taken it, but I did so anyway, and, I don't know, I was preparing myself for a punishment I guess.
Laura: Spencer, you're an adult. We're not going to punish you. Not over something like this.
Kevin: Your grandmother is right. While it's true that you were warned about the dangers of taking them, you took them because you felt it was the only way you could remember what happened with you and Esme, and you are now dealing with the consequences, which hopefully will make you think twice about taking it again.
Spencer: That's indeed how I feel.
Kevin: The headache that you have is a consequence of taking those pills, not a punishment for taking them. I wish people would stop using 'consequence' and 'punishment' interchangeably, as they're not the same thing.
Spencer: I agree. Is it okay if I get some water?
Laura: Of course dear.
*Spencer goes into the kitchen, refills his glass, then makes for the stairs.*
Laura: Spencer?
Spencer: Yes, Grandmother?
Laura: We nonetheless would like to talk to you about it.
Spencer: *Sigh* What is it?
Laura: Why don't we sit somewhere more comfortable.
Spencer: Okay.
*They all move to the couches*
Kevin: Spencer, why didn't you come to me? I'm a psychiatrist. There are techniques I know that would've enabled you to access those repressed memories without having to resort to using drugs.
Spencer: I know, and in hindsight I should have, but I know that therapists often are hesitant to treat family members as it could create a conflict of interest. Not only are you my step-grandfather but you're also Esme's uncle.
Kevin: Yes, that is indeed true. People in my field often don't treat their own family members for that exact reason, but there are exceptions. And this situation would've been an exception. Plus, I wouldn't have been seeing you as a client.
Spencer: I know, but wouldn't it have made you uncomfortable for me to be remembering details about the last time Esme and I…had been together? I mean, she's your niece.
Kevin: It's…awkward, yes. However, I think it would be more awkward for Esme, because she told me I remind her too much of her father, and while I hope to one day bond with her as her uncle, as well as help her heal from the trauma that her adoptive parents as well as my brother and Heather put her through, I know where she's coming from, and I must respect her boundaries.
Spencer: That's understandable.
Kevin: Also, your grandmother and I already got quite an earful when we walked in and heard you thinking that you were talking to Esme even though she's not here.
Spencer: I know, and I feel horrible that you had to hear that. Me getting drunk and lashing out at Esme, and talking in such graphic detail about our sex life.
Laura: I'll admit in the moment I was more than a little frightened, but not so much frightened of you, but frightened of what might have happened to you, as well as worried that you were going to hurt yourself.
Spencer: Well, for the most part, you saw the worst of it. Though after you told me it was safe for me to get some shut-eye, I remembered a few additional details which I knew were in my head, but they were things that I doubt very many people would want to hear from their grandchild.
Laura: It doesn't matter. I'm just glad you're okay. There have been people who have suffered permanent brain damage as a result of taking mnemeophrine when they don't need to.
Spencer: Taking what?
Kevin: Mnemeophrine. That's the pharmaceutical name for the drug that everybody refers to in slang as the "Pensieve Pill." The "M" is silent.
Spencer: I was about to ask why you weren't pronouncing the "M." I looked it up a while back after we found out about what happened to Esme but didn't really remember anything about the name, aside from it starting with "M" and being difficult to pronounce.
Kevin: I know it's confusing, hence why healthcare professionals and law enforcement refer to them as "Pensieve Pills" even among themselves, but that's the pharmaceutical name for the drug.
Spencer: I see.
Kevin: How about the memory? I know it must be fresh in your mind, and that's understandable, but do you feel like it's impairing your ability to remain focused?
Spencer: You're right about it being fresh in my mind, and does keep repeating, but I don't feel like it's impairing my ability to remain focused.
Kevin: Do you know what today's date is?
Spencer: Today is…Thursday, January 25, 2024.
Kevin: That's correct.
Spencer: And I just remembered I'm supposed to be leaving for France tomorrow! I need to pack!
Laura: Spencer, wait-
Spencer: Grandmother, I promised Trina I was going to accompany her and help her get settled in!
Laura: Spencer-
Spencer: You told me you weren't going to punish me!
Laura: We aren't, Spencer, but you need to listen!
Spencer: *Sigh* I'm sorry Grandmother, I'm just really stressed out right now.
Laura: And we don't want to add to your stresses. I know that you want to help Trina get settled in, and we're not going to stop you. But I just want to make sure you really are up for it.
Spencer: I am, Grandmother.
Laura: Are you sure? Because I noticed you seemed to struggle a bit with trying to recall today's date.
Spencer: But I did recall today's date, and I know that I'm supposed to leave for France tomorrow.
Laura: Do you remember why you're going to France?
Spencer: I just said it's so that I can help Trina get settled in.
Laura: Get settled in where?
Spencer: School.
Laura: Do you remember the name of the school she's going to?
Spencer: The Sorbonne.
Laura: Do you remember what she's going to be studying at the Sorbonne?
Spencer: Art. Grandmother, what's with all these questions?
Kevin: One of the common symptoms of mnemeophrine withdrawal is short-term memory loss. It's temporary and should resolve itself in a few days. You do remember me telling you that yesterday, right?
Spencer: *Sigh* No. I mean, now that you mentioned it, it sounds a bit familiar, but I've been so overwhelmed that it slipped my mind. But I remember everything else.
Kevin: It's possible you might be more forgetful tomorrow.
Spencer: Well, I can always write stuff down. I've got my travel itinerary saved to my phone and everything.
Laura: We aren't worried about that.
Spencer: What are you worried about?
Laura: We're worried about how Trina will react if she notices anything that seems off about you. She tends to notice this sort of thing before anyone else does, and when she notices, she's going to have questions, and she's probably going to worry.
Kevin: And if she's worried about you, she's likely not going to have an easy time getting settled in. So your grandmother and I are concerned about the effect something like this could have on her ability to focus on her studies.
Laura: So if she notices, what are you going to do?
Spencer: Reassure her that I'm okay.
Laura: I don't think that's the best way.
Spencer: Well what other options do I have?
Laura: Be honest with her. Tell her that there was something that you felt like you needed to remember, so you got someone to give you a Pensieve Pill, you took it, you remembered what you were hoping to remember, and unfortunately, you're dealing with the withdrawal symptoms.
Spencer: But Grandmother, don't you think that's going to make her even more worried?
Laura: Being honest with her is the best thing you can do. After everything she went through with finding out that Marcus Taggert isn't her biological father and that her mother had kept this from not only her, but Taggert and Curtis, she will have an easier time than if you lie and say you're alright when you're not.
Kevin: Ultimately you remembered what you were hoping to remember about Esme, and if anything, it reenforced your decision to not get back together with her, and you can commit yourself fully to Trina, and make your relationship work.
Laura: That's what you want, right Spencer?
*Spencer is reminded that he hasn't told anyone that there's a possibility that he's Ace's biological father.*
Laura: Spencer?
Spencer: Um, yeah, that's what I want.
Kevin: You're sure? You seem a little hesitant.
Spencer: Well, I do have a lot on my mind.
Laura: Then maybe it would be better for you to not go on this trip, and instead give yourself time to recover.
Kevin: Your grandmother has a valid point. Your brain has been through a tremendous amount of stress, and this trip is only going to add to it.
Laura: I'm sure Trina would understand if you told her that you can't make it to France because you're sick. That might be the best thing to do.
Spencer: But Grandmother, we have plans to do stuff before her classes start.
Laura: Sometimes plans must be cancelled.
Kevin: Not to mention that Trina is probably going to be somewhat distracted simply because this is a whole new experience for her and she's no doubt having some anxiety about it. She's leaving behind her family, her friends, her job, in order to attend a school in another country.
Laura: It might not seem like a big deal to you, since you attended boarding school in France, but it's a bigger deal to her.
Spencer: All the more reason for me to be there, Grandmother.
Laura: Well, ultimately the decision is up to you.
Kevin: We're just wanting to make sure you're up for it.
Spencer: *Sigh* Alright, well, you've definitely given me a lot to think about.
Laura: Don't rush into a decision right now.
*Spencer feels his head throb and takes a sip of water.*
Spencer: I guess I should probably continue to rest and recuperate.
Laura: Okay sweetie.
*Spencer begins to climb the stairs, then turns back around and looks at both of them.*
Spencer: Grandmother?
Laura: Yes?
Spencer: Thank you. And thank you Kevin.
Laura: Of course sweetie.
Kevin: Anytime.
*He goes back upstairs to his room, closes the door, takes another sip of water and puts the glass on his nightstand, then lies back down, unable to clear his mind of the stress of having to tell Trina about all of these things while the memory of finding out that Esme slept with Nikolas began playing in his head once again. The thing he was most concerned about was how to tell Trina that he might be Ace's father.*
THE NEXT DAY
Esme was getting ready for her first day of classes at PCU. She really didn't want to go, as she dreaded the reaction of the other students as well as the faculty to her presence. It was one of the places she felt least welcome. She also felt like she wouldn't be able to concentrate on her assignments due to the anxiety she was facing, as well as being pregnant. Yet Nelle insisted that it was something that she needed to do.
She finished putting on her makeup and was looking at herself in the mirror. The heart pendant glistened in the light coming through the window, which reminded Esme that Nelle told her to not let anyone see her wearing it. She unclipped the clasp and put the necklace in her jewelry box. She saw Nelle come into the room through the reflection in the mirror.
Nelle: Ready?
Esme: I guess. But do you really think this is a good idea? Everybody at PCU must hate me and think I'm a horrible person, and I don't blame them considering…what I did. I'm dreading how Joss, Cam, and Trina will react when they see me there.
Nelle: Well, as I said at the feast, your journey of self-discovery won't always be easy, and this is a bump in the road, but not an especially large one. And don't forget, after you lost your memory, people began to look past your anger and bitterness towards the world and saw your scared, vulnerable side. I remember you telling me about the time you weren't feeling well and you went to GH, and Dr. Robinson was the one who examined you. She treated you the way she treats all the other patients.
Esme: True, but she was just doing her job. I wouldn't have blamed her if I had a serious illness but she didn't tell me because she secretly was hoping I'd die.
Nelle: Esme, don't say that. I know you feel awful about what you did, but you need to be nicer to yourself. You're in a much different situation now than you were when you first came to Port Charles.
Esme: I know. And it's saying something that I remember everything I did, yet don't feel the same way I did back then. But I still am dreading how Trina, Cam, and Joss will react when they see me.
Nelle: Well, if it's any consolation, Trina is going to school in Paris, and meanwhile Joss and Cam have been broken up for about a year now, and Cam got accepted into Stanford.
Esme: That's right, I attended his goodbye party. He's a nice guy. And Trina seems like a nice girl, and my main source of conflict with her is that we're in love with the same guy, though it sounds like Trina was the one who ended things with Spence. If it weren't for that, I could see me and Trina becoming friends. I can't say the same about Joss. She's the one who I feel like I need to watch out for. She seems like Carly's mini me.
Nelle: You can say that again. She's currently dating Dex Heller, Sonny's enforcer. Just like her mom dated Sonny's old enforcer.
Esme: That doesn't surprise me. Cam always seemed too "puppy dog" for Joss. She needs someone a lot more dangerous!
Nelle: I know right? The apple sure doesn't fall very far from the tree. Oh and get this, Joss actually cheated on Cam with Dex!
Esme: Oh my god, really?
Nelle: That's what I've heard. What a great role model Carly is for her kids!
*They both laugh*
Nelle: Well anyways, I can understand why you might feel awkward around Joss, but try not to let it get to you. You have more important stuff to focus on. And if it becomes overwhelming at all, you know of course that I'm always here for you.
Esme: I know, and thanks.
Nelle: Anytime.
*They hug. Esme goes into Ace's room and gives him a kiss goodbye, then makes her way down to the docks. After a few minutes the launch arrives and she gets on. The boat ride is just as nauseating as it was the previous time, and Esme doesn't know whether it's seasickness, morning sickness, nervousness, or a combination of all three. She's very relieved once they reach the pier. She gets off the boat and waits for the rideshare to take her to PCU.*
Spencer woke up that morning and felt very relieved that the pain in his head was much less intense than the previous day. He got dressed and did his usual morning routine. Everything felt normal, though when he put his glasses on, he noticed that his vision became very blurry. He came downstairs to find Laura and Kevin seated at the table in the living room, discussing something that seemed to be quite serious. But when Laura looked up and saw him, she started laughing.
Spencer: Good morning, Grandmother! What's so funny?
Laura: What made you decide to wear your glasses?
Spencer: What are you talking about?
Laura: You have your glasses on, Spencer. You hated them because people said you looked like Urkel from Family Matters, so I'm surprised to see you're wearing them because you've…worn contacts for the past few years…
*She stops laughing when she realizes what's probably happening.*
Laura: You haven't forgotten that you wear contacts now, right Spencer?
Spencer: I guess that must be why my vision is so blurry.
*He takes the glasses off and discovers his vision is much clearer.*
Spencer: Huh, I guess I must've put my contacts in first, then put the glasses on afterwards. That's kind of weird why I would do that.
Laura: I just hope you didn't fall asleep with them in.
Spencer: No, I remember putting them in a little while ago.
Kevin: Um, Spencer, let's sit down so I can ask you some questions.
Spencer: Okay?
*They sit down on the couches*
Kevin: Do you know what today's date is, Spencer? No, no, no, don't look at your watch.
*Spencer was about to look at his smartwatch to see what the date is*
Spencer: Today is…Friday, January 26, 2024.
Kevin: Good. Do you have anything planned for today?
Spencer: I'm leaving for France later today.
Kevin: Very good. Are you going with anyone?
Spencer: Yes, I'm going with Trina.
Kevin: What are you going to be doing with Trina when you arrive in France?
Spencer: Spending time with her before the start of the spring term, and help her get settled in at school.
Kevin: Very good. What school is Trina going to?
Spencer: Ecole Internationale De Chatel. No, wait, that's the school that I went to. Where is Trina going? Ah, the Savoy!
*Kevin is shaking his head*
Kevin: Try again.
Spencer: I know it began with the letter S…and she got accepted into an art program there. The Sorbonne!
Kevin: That's right, the Sorbonne. And you said that she got accepted into the art program. What are you going to be studying?
Spencer: I, uh…hmm…
Laura (whispering to Kevin): Why did you ask him that? He's not going to be studying there!
Spencer: Wow, I don't remember!
Kevin (whispering to Laura): It's important for him to remember what he isn't doing in addition to what he is doing.
Spencer: I don't remember what I'm going to be studying! Do you remember?
Kevin: I do.
Spencer: What am I studying there?
Kevin: You aren't studying anything there. You're simply there to help Trina get settled in, just like you said a moment ago. Afterwards you'll be coming back here.
Spencer: Wait, coming back to Port Charles?
Laura: Yes.
Spencer: I won't be staying in France, even if I'm not going to the Sorbonne?
Laura: No. You said yourself that you're going there to help Trina get settled in.
Spencer: So I'm not going to be seeing her again?
Laura: You'll see her when she comes back.
Spencer: How long will that be?
Laura: She will be there for four months.
Spencer: *Sigh* Okay.
*He looks heartbroken, seemingly having forgotten that he and Trina, while still in love, were no longer in a relationship*
Kevin: One last question. Do you know who the people in this picture are?
*He holds up a picture of Esme with Ace on her lap*
Laura: Kevin, I-
Spencer: Do you even have to ask me that?! That's Esme and Ace! She's evil and I want nothing to do with her!
Laura: Well, we can't argue with that. Esme did some pretty horrible things. But what about Ace?
Spencer: He deserves better. Much better.
*Outside, Betty Rutherford is listening in on them through an eavesdropping device and texting Brennan.*
Betty (texting): He seems to want nothing to do with Esme, and says Ace deserves better.
Brennan (replying): I was afraid of this, but was prepared that it might happen nonetheless. Don't worry, we can still help him.
Spencer: Grandmother, what's going on? What's with all these questions?
Kevin: We're trying to assess the effects of the mnemeophrine pill that you took the other day. You do remember that, right?
Spencer: *Sigh* Yes, I do. God, Trina is going to be so upset with me! What should I do?!
Laura: The best thing you can do is be honest with her, preferably before you leave.
Spencer: *Sigh* Alright, I'll find a way to tell her. But I'm dreading how she's going to react when I do.
Kevin: I think she's going to be very relieved that the extent of the withdrawal effects are small things like forgetting that you no longer wear glasses, getting the name of the nightclub that her father owns confused with the French university she's going to be attending, and being sad that you're not going to be there with her.
Laura: Kevin and I were discussing what could potentially have happened to you since you took it without having any sort of brain injury or memory loss and there was some pretty frightening stuff.
Kevin: Yes. I am of course familiar with mnemeophrine, and while I am qualified to prescribe it, I rarely do so, mainly because of what happens if it's abused, which it often is.
Spencer: And what are they?
Kevin: There was a young man, around your age, who overdosed on it, and unlike Esme, he had no history of traumatic brain injuries or amnesia. He had a difficult time in school when he was a kid, and was very happy when he graduated high school, as it meant that he was finally free from the obligation to attend school. His parents had a barbecue when he got home from the graduation ceremony with his family and friends all together, and life was finally good. However, after the euphoria wore off and life became difficult for him again, he wanted to re-live that happy day. He obtained the drug illegally through a drug dealer, and not just a single pill, but an entire 30-day supply. Within two days, the bottle was empty.
What ended up happening was that even though he re-lived happy memories including his high school graduation, he re-lived a lot of negative memories too, and not just with school. He was never the same afterwards as he had permanent brain damage. He kept switching back and forth between the present day and whichever memories were replaying in his head, and as a result, he had to be institutionalized. Due to everything going on in his head, he couldn't make sense while speaking, as he kept interrupting himself to talk about something completely unrelated. As a result, while he still was able to talk, he was no longer able to carry on conversations.
It was understandably difficult for his family to see him in this condition. Sometimes he recognized them, and other times they were strangers to him. The thing that was especially difficult for his family was they never knew which memories he was re-living on any given day. If he was re-living a happy memory, he was smiling and laughing. If he was re-living a depressing memory, he was crying uncontrollably. If he was re-living an angry memory, he was shouting at and verbally abusing anyone in the room. And the worst was when he was re-living a traumatic memory, in which he was telling people to get away from him, and would "defend" himself if they got too close. Or he'd sit in the corner screaming. When he was in this state, he had to be sedated. All kinds of stuff that was heartbreaking for everyone close to him to witness.
Spencer: You seem to be referring to everything in the past-tense. Is that because…
Kevin: He's no longer around.
Spencer: Wow, that's awful!
Laura: Yes it is.
Spencer: But I don't understand why you're telling me this. I only took a single pill. At least I think I did.
Laura: That is correct, you only took the one pill. The bottle didn't have a label but I got the record from the pharmacy.
Spencer: Okay. But just so you know I'm well aware of where I am, who you are, and all that.
Laura: We didn't doubt that for a second, Spencer.
*He goes back upstairs to his room. Laura and Kevin exchange awkward glances.*
Esme made her way through the halls at PCU to her creative writing class. As she predicted, the students seemed less than pleased to see her, for the most part. As she passed by, people stopped talking to each other in order to stare at her. She could hear them whispering to each other as she passed them.
"It's Esme!"
"What is she doing back here?"
"She should be in prison!"
"Forget prison. Hand her off to Sonny Corinthos! He'll know what to do with her."
She then heard footsteps running towards her. The person stopped next to her. She looked and saw a guy who looked somewhat familiar, and not in a good way.
Creepy guy: Hi there, revenge-porn-girl!
*Esme ignores him and continues to walk.*
Creepy guy: I was hoping the criminal would return to the scene of the crime!
*Esme continues to ignore him.*
Creepy guy: I heard you bedded your ex-boyfriend's father!
*Esme hastens her pace.*
Creepy guy: I guess your boyfriend just wasn't man enough for you, huh. But maybe I can be?
*Esme turns around and looks at him.*
Esme: He's way more of a man than you'll ever be! Now leave me alone!
*The creepy guy remains standing there with a stunned expression on his face as Esme walks away from him and enters her classroom. She is very relieved when she sees he isn't in the class.*
Laura: Do you really think it's a good idea for Spencer to go on this trip?
Kevin: Do you want my opinion as your husband or as a psychiatrist?
Laura: Both, I guess.
Kevin: From a psychiatrist's perspective, Spencer definitely seems like he's having trouble remembering stuff. He remembered to put in his contact lenses but forgot that it meant that he no longer wore glasses, and he remembered that today is the day that he's supposed to leave for France, but seemed a little confused about why he was going. It took a while but he eventually remembered the name of the school where Trina was going and what she was going there to study, and I asked him if he remembered what he was studying because I wanted to see whether he knew he was there strictly to help Trina get settled in or if he was also a student there.
Laura: I wish you hadn't done that. You saw how heartbroken he was that he wasn't going to be there with Trina.
Kevin: I had to make sure that he didn't have it in his head that he was going to be studying there as well, and it seemed to me that he did.
Laura: I know Kevin, but we didn't have to remind him that he wasn't going to be staying in France with her.
Kevin: It was better for us to remind him before they left rather than him finding out once her classes begin.
Laura: I suppose you're right.
Kevin: Now, speaking as your husband, I think your concerns about Spencer are very valid, and we should continue to keep an eye on him throughout the day. If he seems to be getting worse, it probably would be in his best interest if he didn't go on this trip, or if he does, perhaps we should go with him.
Laura: I don't think he'd react well to that at all.
Kevin: Accompanying him to Paris doesn't mean we'd have to follow him around wherever he goes. We would just be much easier to reach if something were to happen.
Laura: Okay. We'll have to be gentle about how we broach the subject.
Kevin: I don't think we could go about it any other way.
Laura: I still am having a hard time with the fact that the person who prescribed the pill that was given to Spencer was Arthur Cabot.
Kevin: As am I.
Laura: What do you suppose his role in all this is?
Kevin: It's hard to say, but somebody definitely has ulterior motives for prescribing mnemeophrine to people who don't need it. Even though it helped Esme recover from her amnesia, she still got heavily addicted to the point where she overdosed. Had they not found her after she passed out, I don't think she would have survived. And if that's not bad enough, she was prescribed them for headaches. I don't think Cyrus was involved in getting her addicted as he provided evidence showing the pills were for Florence, and Martin backed him up. But Jonathan Kinder had a history of getting his patients addicted to painkillers in order to take advantage of them. I have no idea if he planned to do anything like that to Esme, but in any event, we don't have to think about that, as Esme's recovered, and Kinder is back in prison where he should be.
But as far as Cabot, I don't think he was a random doctor who prescribed a single pill that was intended for a person with advance-stage Alzheimer's but instead was given to a random, healthy young man. Once again, I don't think Cyrus was involved, as you saw on camera that he refused to give Spencer the pills.
Laura: That's right. And I asked him if he could show me the label that was on the bottle, and it checked out. The prescriber was the doctor who has been caring for Florence for many years. Martin backed this up too. But I think that young woman somehow knew that Spencer was looking for a mnemeophrine pill and knew where to get it. From the doctor who developed the drug in the first place.
Kevin: And you really think Cabot is the one who developed it?
Laura: There's only one way to find out.
*While Kevin and Laura are talking, Spencer is lying in bed, trying to decide what to do regarding the trip to France. He eventually decides that Trina would sense something was wrong so it made sense to tell her. He would spare her the details of what he remembered, only that it cemented his decision that he and Esme aren't meant to be. He takes out his phone and dials Trina's number, and gets her voicemail.*
Spencer: Hey Trina, it's me. I'm looking forward to seeing you, but there's something important that I really need to talk to you about, and I think it's best to do it before we leave. Call me back.
*Betty is still outside listening in, frantically updating Brennan on the situation.*
Betty (texting): It's looking increasingly likely that Spencer is not going to Paris with Trina. What are we going to do?
Brennan (replying): Just sit tight.
Esme ended up hating her creative writing class. She had signed up for it because she thought it would give her a heathy way to express her thoughts even if she was coming from a dark place. However, the instructor seemed extremely strict and rather hypocritical. She had promised the students that she would help them make the most of their natural creative ability, only to then inform them that their work would be graded, not by how creative it was, but by how well it conformed to the extremely high standards that she was setting for the class. It was understandable to expect the students to use proper spelling and grammar, but Esme felt that forcing them to conform to certain standards defeated the purpose of it being a "creative" writing class.
However, she enjoyed her psychology class, and was looking forward to it being another way for her to better understand herself. She liked the instructor too, but not everybody felt the same way, and were not afraid to express it.
*Esme is walking out of psychology class and hears footsteps running towards her. She hopes it isn't the creep she encountered earlier, and turns to see a snooty-looking girl who had been sitting at the back of the classroom.*
Snooty girl: Can you believe the audacity of that professor?! Asking us to donate money to charity for extra credit? That's highly unethical!
Esme: I mean, I suppose I could see it that way if it were the only way he was offering extra credit, but it was one of several ways. It's not like he's saying that we have to do it or he's reducing our grade.
Snooty girl: Still, donating to All Our Children? A place where unfit parents sit around on their asses all day and party all night while these "sponsors" take care of the babies that they keep popping out? I personally think it should be illegal for people under the age of 25 to have children, and if they do, they should immediately be taken away and given up for adoption!
Esme: *Laughs sarcastically* Good luck enforcing such a law! Besides, many people adopt children only to mistreat them. My own adoptive parents mistreated me and my adoptive siblings, and when they died, I didn't shed a tear. Good riddance!
Snooty girl: Well that's highly unfortunate but you're in the minority! The whole purpose of adoption is to give kids better homes than they would have if they remained with their deadbeat parents!
Esme: Not necessarily! I have a very good friend, who's like a sister to me, who grew up with a deadbeat "dad" who adopted her, not to give her a better life, but to carve out her vital organs and sell them on the black market so he could pay off his gambling debts. What kind of monster does something like that? They ended up living in a one-bedroom apartment and my friend was forced to sleep on the couch in the living room. And the worst part is that she didn't find out that he wasn't her biological father until many years later, long after he had died!
Snooty girl: Well, I'm sorry that both of you had to go through that, but still, if you're under 25, you shouldn't have children! And even if a person does have children at age 25, they can't depend on these so-called "charities" that leech off of people's hard-earned money to care for their children while they go out and party. Not to mention the facilities that they're housed in usually are poorly maintained, reek of dirty diapers, have mold growing everywhere and a bunch of other conditions that are unsafe for a child to grow up in. What's stopping these lowlifes from getting jobs? Sure, they might not be glamorous jobs, but they can still support their children while being productive members of society. Someone has to flip the burgers after all!
*They get to a quad area and stop walking, and turn to face each other*
Esme: For the record, All Our Children is the exact opposite of what you just described! They are a very reputable organization who have helped many young parents improve their quality of life. And they recently moved into a beautiful building that I'm sure is much nicer than wherever you live.
Snooty girl: Oh really? How do you know this?
Esme: I know this because I'm a member of All Our Children! I've come back to PCU so I can learn the skills I'll need so that I can get a job that actually pays enough money so that I can one day support myself and my son without assistance, which flipping burgers wouldn't enable me to do. And I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my sponsor. So, I hate to break it to you, but I'm not "leeching off your money" so that I can sit around on my ass and party. Besides, I doubt you've ever worked a day in your life!
*Snooty girl looks Esme up and down with disdain*
Snooty girl: Hmph!
*She walks away, leaving Esme to wonder if there was anybody in Port Charles who had the decency to not say anything if they can't say anything nice*
Trina returned Spencer's call, and he filled her in about what happened with the pill. He was expecting her to get angry and tell him not to accompany her on the trip, but she handled the news surprisingly well. The main thing she was upset with him about was that he was willing to risk his health to remember something so unpleasant, but was glad that Spencer was honest with her. But there was one final thing he had yet to tell her that had been nagging at him, and it wasn't anything he hadn't been able to remember as a result of being drunk. But it was perhaps the most important
Spencer: There's one more thing that I need to tell you, and this one is probably the most important and the most difficult.
Trina: What's that?
Spencer: *Sigh* There's a chance that Ace is in fact my son.
Trina: What makes you think that he's your son?
Spencer: Because by the time Esme and I…were together, she had stopped taking birth control.
Trina: Spencer, why are you telling me this now, when we're about to leave?!
Spencer: Because I wasn't sure how to tell you. I remembered it as I was leaving the dorm building after we broke up. And later that same evening, when I encountered Esme at the Savoy, we argued about it for several minutes before she admitted that it was possible that I could be Ace's father, though she thinks it's unlikely. And that's how this whole mess with the Pensive Pill got started. She told me that we had sex one last time and it was after she and my dad…I don't want to think about it because I feel so gross. In any case, she told me the reason why I didn't remember is because I got drunk, and I needed to know for sure. So that's why I took the pill in the first place.
Trina: Spencer!
Spencer: I know, you can be as mad at me as you want to. I shouldn't have kept it from you.
Trina: No, it's Esme, who I'm mad at! She shouldn't have kept this from you. I mean yeah, you could have handled it MUCH better in that you shouldn't have gotten so drunk in order to forget about it only to resort to taking a dangerous drug in order to remember it again, but Esme shouldn't have kept it from you in the first place! Spencer, this changes everything!
Spencer: Why? I don't think I'm Ace's father. Esme had already slept with my…with Nikolas, so I think it's unlikely that I'm Ace's father.
Trina: But what if you are his father? Have you gotten a DNA test?
Spencer: I thought about it, but no I haven't gotten a DNA test.
Trina: Why not?
Spencer: Because I don't think it's likely that I am his father, but if I am, it would mean having to co-parent him with Esme. Every time I see her we have heated arguments, and that's not something that a child should have to deal with growing up. Having one toxic parent is bad enough.
Trina: And in Ace's case, Esme is the toxic parent!
Spencer: I'm not much better.
Trina: You've made some bad choices…a lot of bad choices actually…but you're not a bad guy. Please promise me that you'll get a DNA test as soon as you get back to Port Charles!
Spencer: What if it shows that I am the father?
Trina: Then I will 110% support you in getting full custody of Ace and will help you raise him!
Spencer: But what about the Sorbonne?
Trina: I'll only be at the Sorbonne for four months. While I'm looking forward to the experience of being able to study abroad, Port Charles is my home, and it's your home too. I have tried to get past what Esme did to me, but this gives me a whole new reason to hate her! And I care about Ace, and he needs to grow up as far away from her as possible!
Spencer: Agreed. After what I remembered, I don't think she has a decent bone in her body. And I'm sorry that I turned a blind eye to it for so long. But I can't ask you to do that.
Trina: You're not. I want to do it. Taking Ace away from Esme will be the ultimate form of payback, more so than any punishment the legal system may or may not impose on her. And even if Nikolas is his biological father-
Spencer: Which I think he is-
Trina: But you're still a much better influence for him than Nikolas or Esme. You're far from perfect, but there are plenty of people who are worse.
Spencer: Thanks…I guess.
Trina: Just promise me that there are no more secrets.
Spencer's voice: I promise there are no more secrets.
*Esme, having just gotten back to Wyndemere, lies down in her bed to get some much-needed rest. She puts a hand on her belly, too early in her pregnancy to show a bump, while looking over at her purse on the nightstand, inside of which is the unopened envelope containing the results of the DNA test she secretly ran.*
Laura and Kevin expressed to Spencer that they felt they should accompany them on the trip, promising that they would give him and Trina space and would be taking a separate flight and making their own accommodations. They emphasized that the reason for wanting to accompany was that if anything happened, they would be there. Spencer agreed, even though he still felt like he was being punished.
They stopped by Trina's house to pick her up. When they got there, Spencer observed the disapproving look on Portia Robinson's face as Trina said goodbye to her and walked out, and felt like he deserved it. Perhaps Trina deserved better, he thought. Maybe this trip would be saying goodbye, and when he got back to Port Charles, he'd busy himself with other things. He remembered his childhood crush on Emma Drake. She lived on the complete opposite side of the country in Berkeley, California, but occasionally came back to Port Charles to visit her grandmother, who happened to be Anna Devane. It had been a long time since he last saw her. Did she have a boyfriend? If she were single, would she be interested in dating him for real, now that they were adults?
They got to the airport and went through security, and were sitting in the seats at the gate, waiting for their flight to arrive. Spencer had his arm around Trina as she rested her head on his shoulder. As much as he didn't want it, he was prepared for this to be the last time he and Trina would be together, if nothing else, simply because life would no doubt be taking them in different directions, and all he wished for was for them to be able to enjoy themselves without anything going wrong.
*Their flight arrives, and they wait in line with the rest of their boarding group.*
Spencer: Shall we?
Trina: We shall.
*They board the plane together. Betty Rutherford watches them while waiting for her own boarding group to be called.*
Betty (texting): We're boarding. Assuming there are no delays, we should be in Paris in about eight hours.
Brennan (texting): Excellent!
Shoutout to MirabelleC on Reddit for suggesting "mnemeophrine" as the name of the drug known as the "Pensieve Pill." Thank you very much!