Rachael Leigh Cook was all smiles as Sam arrived. "Did you read the new scene? I just hope they don't omit it, because it's one of my faves."
Sam agreed as he walked over to where Rachael was standing on the stage with the school corridor set.
"I hope the scene stays too," David Semel replied, agreeing with Rachael. "Let's rehearse this quickly and shoot this thing, all right?"
The director walked over to Sam and gave him instructions for the scene. Rehearsing it and shooting it went without a hitch, to everyone's surprise.
After shooting the scene, Sam sat in James' chair. Rachael was all smiles as she approached Sam. "Hey, Katie told me about S.N.L.," Rachael said. "Congrats!"
Sam asked, "S.N.L.? What's that?"
Rachael looked surprised. "You're kidding, right? Saturday Night Live? Katie said you'll be hosting the show in mid-January."
Sam asked, "You mean, hosting the show that has Gilda Radner on it?"
Rachael looked even more surprised now. "Gilda Radner?! What decade are you in? The Seventies?"
"No, I'm in the correct timeframe for once," Sam replied, referring to the fact that he leaped into the present day instead of leaping into the past.
This made Rachael believe that he was just playing mind games with her, and that was what he and Joshua Jackson were going to do to her that day. Rachael said, "Anyway, it will definitely be a highlight for you."
"Thanks," Sam managed to say before she quickly hugged him. Sam was very surprised by the sudden show of affection but did not show it. Rachael released the hug and smiled before saying, "Sorry. I'm usually very conservative and I don't hug just anybody."
Sam just smiled back in response.
"I'd say it was love," Al said, having watched the scene they had just filmed and was now standing next to Sam.
Ignoring Al, Sam took a deep breath and asked Rachael, "Are you currently seeing anyone?"
Rachael smiled a very sweet and shy smile. "No. See you tomorrow on the set," she said before rushing off.
As Sam watched her leave, it was the first time he realized he actually was attracted to Rachael Leigh Cook. Sam let that roll around in his mind as he went back to James' place.
Friday morning.
Sam was awake early and arrived on the set at the same time as Meredith Monroe. "Hey, we got here at the same time for once," Meredith said as she got out of her car.
"How about that? At least, I didn't beat you to the set this time," Sam said as he stood half-way between James' truck and Meredith's car. A car horn honked behind Sam. It was Rachael's car, and Sam was blocking her way. Sam jumped out of the way, but Rachael had already stopped the car.
"I wasn't going to hit you," Rachael said after she parked the car and got out.
"How cute," Meredith said when Rachael stepped out of the car and she noticed that both Sam and Rachael had on Green Bay Packers jackets. "You two are big Packers fans?"
Sam replied, "Great fans think alike. Shall we go get ready for today?"
Both Meredith and Rachael agreed. Rachael smiled a very sweet smile in Sam's direction. As Sam smiled back at her, he noticed that the smile on Rachael's face did not fade as the three of time and Al walked to the make-up trailer.
"What's this, Sam? Are you two falling for each other?" Al asked.
Sam ignored Al and continued walking. Turning his attention to Meredith, Sam said, "why don't you go to the make-up trailer without us, okay?"
"I thought we were all... oh sure," Meredith said, finally catching on and made a hasty exit.
Breakfast on the set
Rachael laughed at this. It was a good sign.
Sam and Rachael went to the snack trailer and got James' usual breakfast again. Sam wanted to talk with Rachael to see if they had anything in common, but Sam knew that if she did have anything in common with him, it would be in common with himself and not James Van Der Beek. Sam kept telling himself this was the correct course to take. Letting Rachael fall for him as James was the right thing to do, but Sam also knew that a part of him was hurting deep inside, knowing that even if he did save her life, it would still be another lonely leap like so many others.