A/N: Let me say one thing...SORRY! Oh and Happy Holidays :)

"Ok cut!" Kyle called. "That's good for today! See you all Monday."

"Nice work Sam." Gabe—her hunky co-star who just flew in today—told her. He grinned at her and helped her off the car. They had really hit it off friend wise. Once they started talking they weren't able to stop. He really was nice…and cute. They had shot an action scene today. Sam's entire body ached from it too.

She smiled at him. "Thanks." She quickly hurried in the other direction. She was done for today...well at least here she was.

It's been three weeks since they started shooting. Meaning the end of August was coming on—meaning the beginning of school.

Ugh.

Sam didn't really want to think about that. She'll have school and 'work'. Not to mention her regular chores. Yup, no star treatment for her at River Bend Ranch. She sighed has she hopped onto one of the golf carts waiting to take her all the way back to the trailers.

"Rough day?" Bill—her official golf cart escort—asked.

"Nah, I just remembered all the work I have waiting for me at home." Sam sighed again. She hadn't been able to ride for days. And it looked like the way things were going a few more would have to pile up on top of that. Unless she finds time over the weekend…

"Right, right…you live on a ranch." He said not really asking a question, only stating a fact.

"Yeah. And to top it all off school is starting. Not exactly excited about that." Sam said as she gripped to one of the handles while Bill made a sharp turn.

"No home school?" He asked weaving through people.

"Nope."

"Huh—well at least maybe you'll be the popular kid now." He skidded to a halt in front of her trailer. Sam braced against the console so she wouldn't fly out. Bill's only response was to grin sheepishly.

"That's what I was afraid of…" Sam mumbled as she climbed out. Ever since the silly news broadcast it was weird to go anywhere. Even Clara's…

Clara's!

Sam trudged up the stairs and shut the trailer door behind her. She looked up to see Jen sitting and talking with Cammie. Cammie is Sam's wardrobe manager…or whatever you want to call it. Not only does she dress Sam up but she also keeps track of all the costumes.

Thank God for that… Sam thought.

"Jen!" She squealed before running over and giving her best friend a hug. She hadn't seen her in days.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asked releasing Jen as Cammie pulled Sam to her feet and began tearing clothes off of her. Good thing today was one of the action scenes…the clothes were already crappy. And with the way Cammie tore at them…well let's just say who needs scissors?

"Well since it's the weekend—and they gracefully gave you a break—we decided it would be nice to go out to dinner." Jen replied giggling as Sam hissed at Cammie who caught a piece of her hair in one of the buttons.

"Ouch—we?"

"Yeah, your family, my family, the Ely's. You know…the norm."

"Ah. Where are we going?" Sam asked as she grabbed a wash cloth and started wiping away the fake blood and makeup.

Jen gave her a look.

"Oh right…Clara's." She answered her own question. "Yes! Seriously what I wouldn't do for one of her cheeseburgers right now."

Jen shook her head and tossed her some of her regular clothes. Sam hurried and slipped them on. She was heading for the door when Cammie stopped her.

"Earrings…and you can't go out without makeup! Are you insane? Sit." She commanded hauling Sam off of her feet and plopping her in a chair. Sam groaned, complained and protested but Cammie ignored here.

"Here hold these for me," she ordered stuffing bobby pins in Sam's mouth. "There that shut you up."

Jen giggled. Making Sam glare at her through her reflection on the mirror.

"I like her Sam. She's blunt and fashionable." Jen said still giggling.

Cammie smiled and smeared some lip-gloss on Sam.

"There you go you big baby. Sheesh, you do have star quality…you little diva."

"Ew no. Diva's like makeup."

"Ok Cammie you just earned yourself an invitation to dinner with us." Jen said still laughing at there antics.

"How do you earn an invitation?" A deep voice asked.

Sam stopped at the bottom of the stairs causing Jen and Cammie to run into her.

"Because I'm willing to give whatever it is a shot." Gabe smiled at them.

"Uh," Jen stuttered and stared at Sam. Who is that? She mouthed before fanning herself.

"Gabe, this is my best friend Jen. Jen…Gabe. He just got in today" Sam introduced a swooning Jen who smiled and shook his hand.

"You have an invitation too…if you want." Jen said still smiling at him. Sam rolled her eyes and smiled at Gabe too.

"You should come. Besides you need to have a real Nevada meal." Sam insisted.

"Yeah handsome…you look like you've had one to many celery sticks." Cammie said rolling her eyes at all of them.

"Well you can't turn down an invite…it's just not polite."

"Awesome." Jen sighed. They all looked at her.

"Which way to the car Jennifer?" Sam asked.

"Oh right! Uh—this way." She made her way around Gabe and led the way to the car.

Cammie gave one look at Sam and Gabe then followed after Jen. Sam smiled at Gabe and he motioned her to walk with him.

"Your friend seems nice."

"Yeah Jen is definitely something." Sam watched as Cammie stuck her foot out and tripped Jen. Cammie caught her before she really fell and they were both laughing.

"Cammie's cool too."

Sam nodded.

"So…do I get to meet your family finally?"

"Yes…and let me just say prematurely…sorry."

Gabe laughed and bumped into Sam.

"C'mon they can't be that bad." Gabe mused.

Sam took a big step so she could put herself in front of him. She stopped and he ran into her. He grabbed her arms to steady her and apologized but Sam ignored that.

"You wanna bet?" She challenged.

"Seriously Sam?"

"Seriously. Just wait and see…" she spun on her heel and began walking again. Gabe chuckled and jogged to catch up with her.

Jen jumped into the bed of Jake's truck. Sam heard her introduce Cammie.

"There's Sam—oh and Gabe." Jen smiled as Sam and Gabe came up to the truck.

Jake sat in the driver seat with his eyebrows furrowed. The seat next to him was empty. But in the bed of the truck sat the rest of the Ely boys, Jen, and now Cammie. Cammie chattered away easily with Jen while everyone else stared at Sam and Gabe.

"Sammie we saved you the seat in the truck! Gabby can sit with us." Bryan called.

"It's Gabe."

Sam giggled as he politely corrected Bryan. She shoved Gabe towards the truck and walked around the to the passenger side. She opened the door but paused before climbing in. Looking around into the bed of the truck she gave Gabe a smile.

"He knows what your name is…just don't expect him to call you by it. It's an Ely trademark…you'll get used to it."

She hopped into the truck and heard them laughing in the bed of the truck. She smiled at Jake as she buckled in.

"Where's the rest of them?" Sam asked noticing Jake was the only truck around.

"Their meeting us there."

"Oh…"

It was silent in the cab of the truck as Jake cruised down the road. Jake drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.

"What?" Sam asked looking away from the window at him.

"Is that the guy who's playing in the movie with you?" He asked peeking at his rearview mirror.

Sam looked back to and saw Gabe laughing along with the rest of them…like he belonged.

"Yeah…why?"

"Jus' wonderin'."

Sam shrugged and looked back out the window.

"Uh—you look nice."

Jake said it so fast the Sam wasn't sure she heard right. After a pause she let out a soft laugh.

"Thanks. You too."

Jake smiled and pulled into the parking lot to Clara's. Sam smiled at the site. She hasn't been here for ages.

Sam unbuckled and turned to get the door but it was already opened. Gabe stood there smiling. He offered her his hand and helped her out of the truck.

"Thanks." She blushed and looked down pretending to brush something off of her shirt.

"No problem."

Sam took a deep breath and looked up at the diner.

"Well let's get some grub. I'm starving!"

Nate jumped out of the bed of the truck and landed next to them.

"Ditto that Sam." He didn't even pause as he walked to the door. Man on a mission…

Sam rolled her eyes and followed them into the diner. She looked back and saw Jake was still at the truck.

"Hey I'll be in, in a second. Jen will introduce you." Sam said as she put her hand on his arm.

She spun and jogged back to the truck. Jake slammed the door and almost ran into her as he turned around.

"Sorry."

"No biggy. What are you waiting for? Someone to bring the burger to you?" Sam teased. He smiled and pointed to his hat.

"Right. Necessities…forget food your hat is more important."

Jake gave her a playful push before draping his arm lazily around her shoulder. Sam laughed as the stumbled their way into the diner. It was a game of theirs. He draped his arm over her shoulders and leaned his weight against her while she did the same. It was harder for her to get her arm around his shoulder so it usually rested on his back.

As they made it to their table Sam tripped on one of the chairs and fell into the booth laughing. Sam looked up and saw she had landed on Gabe's lap. She blushed and apologized before sitting up. Scooting over she made room for Jake to sit next to her.

"So you meet the family?" She asked Gabe reaching across him to where Jen was sitting. She grabbed her water and took a big gulp of it. Jen gave her a look and Sam shrugged.

"Yeah, their glad you invited me."

Clara rushed to their table and smiled down at them.

"Oh my gosh I have celebrities in my diner! My diner!"

People in the diner turned to look. Some whispered among themselves while others just giggled and pointed.

"Who would have thought a little diner in Nevada would accommodate a star one day." Clara continued to muse. "Oh sorry, what can I get y'all?"

"I'll have a chocolate milkshake." Sam said smiling at Jake. Jake rolled his eyes and looked at Clara.

"I'll have a vanilla milkshake,"—he looked down at Sam—"'cause vanilla is so much better than chocolate."

Clara shook her head and jotted down their orders.

"Oh please Jake what's so good about…vanilla," Sam shuddered.

"It taste pure and sweet. But not kill me sweet like chocolate."

"Vanilla is so dull…no wonder you like it."

"Chocolate sweet. Kill me sweet…yeah sorry I see no resemblance…"

Sam sputtered and Jake laughed.

"Whatever…chocolate is still better...," Sam shoved his shoulder nearly knocking him out of the booth.

"Sam…people are staring," Wyatt said.

Sam looked up just noticing that Clara had taken everybody else's order and left. Leaving them to watch the show.

"Good for them," she muttered reaching for Jen's water again. Jen pulled it out of her reach.

"No way Samantha…"

Sam smiled and glared at her friend. Jen mocked her expression.

"Sam…," her dad warned.

Sam sighed and sat up straight. "Yeah, yeah…staring…and the people…got it."

"Alright here's chocolate," Clara plopped a milkshake in front of Gabe and Sam.

"And vanilla," she put vanilla shakes in front of the Ely boys. She started handing out sodas to the rest of them.

"Good choice Gabe…these feather brains clearly don't have good taste." Sam teased smiling triumphantly at Gabe. He smiled back at her.

Sam ripped one end off of her straw and shot the rest of it at Jake. She laughed as it landed in his shake. He tried doing the same but Sam ducked so it hit Gabe instead. Sam started laughing at his stunned expression.

"Fight back!" She said tearing off an end of his straw and handing it to him. He shrugged and shot it at Sam. Sam stared at him with her mouth open. Jake and his brothers laughed along with Gabe. He shrugged again.

"Sorry too tempting."

About a half an hour later everyone sat back in their seats with empty plates in front of them. Sam started playing with her left over fries, making them into a French fry tower.

"So how about that burger? Bet they don't have them like that in 90210." Sam asked staring at her creation. "Come to think of it I bet the word burger is foreign there…"

Gabe laughed. "There was so much food…," he too stared at his plate.

Sam snorted. "Was…"

"So Gabe how long have you been acting?" Gram asked.

Gabe looked away from his plate. "Hmm, for as long as I can remember…commercials…plays…TV shows…movies."

"Wow, so why haven't I seen you?" Quinn asked making his mom smack him. Maxine apologized.

"No it's alright…just recently I've started to get bigger parts," he explained.

"Oh yes! You're in that movie that is in theatres now! Um…after that book…Midnighters!" Jen exclaimed. "And come to think of it I have seen you in other movies…"

Gabe smiled. "Yup, but this is probably going to be my best yet."

Sam scoffed. "Sure if I don't ruin it for you."

"You won't. You are excellent…I can't believe you've never acted before!"

"That's because Sam couldn't get on the stage without clearing out the front rows. If you know what I mean…" Bryan teased.

"Yeah it was like a show at Sea World. If you didn't want to get wet…better sit in the back," Quinn added.

"Ha-Ha. Shut up." Sam threw a wadded napkin at them. Gabe laughed.

"Really? You have stage fright? I would have never guessed…" Gabe mused. "But you seem totally at ease on set."

"Well it's…different."

"How?"

"I have no idea. I guess I don't have to worry about messing up because I can have another try…and well in the end it all turns out perfect."

Gabe nodded along with the rest of them.

"Gosh Sam…that actually makes some sense." Jen teased.

"Watch it Jennifer…I'm out of napkins…"

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Sam walked with Gabe as she showed him around River Bend Ranch. Sam smiled as he walked around without a care. He wasn't what she expected….

He knelt down to rub Blaze behind the ears. He stopped to pet the horses…and even laughed when Ace snorted on him. He even offered to help Sam with her chores. They fed the chickens and he tried to catch one. Sam laughed as they scurried around the chickens. Finally he managed to grab one. Only for it to scratch and peck…

They were now filling the water troughs. A few horses came to investigate but soon got bored and hurried off.

"Wow…this is beautiful." Gabe leaned against the fence and stared out towards the playa. The sun was starting to set sending vibrant colors across the land.

Sam rested the hose in the trough and leaned against the fence with him.

"It's no Beverly Hills…but it's still pretty amazing." Sam lightly teased.

"Beverly Hills doesn't even come close to comparison…," he sighed. "The sunset…well what there is of it...is so dull. Street lights start to come on draining out all the color from the sky. Hell I haven't seen a star in ages. Plenty of airplanes…but no stars." Sam watched as he continued to stare out towards the desert. She grabbed his hand. He looked at their hands then at her. Sam smiled.

"No stars eh? Well…follow me." Sam climbed over the fence and shut the water off. She dragged Gabe towards the barn. She quickly pulled Ace out of his stall and clipped two lead ropes to his halter. She vaulted up and held a hand out for Gabe. He stared at her incredulously.

"C'mon! Before the sun sets preferably." Sam helped walk him through the mounting process and soon they were off. She walked across the bridge letting Gabe get used to being on the back of a horse. Once across the bridge she kicked him into an easy lope. Gabe held onto Sam tighter she smiled and pushed Ace a little faster across the playa.

She eased Ace to a walk as they got closer to the lake.

"Perfect." Sam sighed looking at the setting sun. She slid off Ace and offered Gabe a hand. He slid off carefully but still stumbling into Sam. She laughed and helped right himself.

"Sorry…what's the term for sea legs after riding a horse?" He asked. Sam shrugged and grabbed his hand pulling him towards the lake.

"What about Ace?"

"He won't go far. Don't worry," Sam sat in the tall grass and Gabe followed her. They watched as the sun disappeared from the sky.

"Ok close your eyes and lay back…I'll say when to open."

Gabe carefully lay down on his back with his eyes close. Sam lay down beside him. She watched his chest rise and fall with deep breathes…like he couldn't get enough of the Nevada air. Sam knew what it was like…and she lived here. She looked up back towards the sky and was surprised by how dark it got to fast. The stars twinkled brightly helping the moon light the dark sky.

She smiled and looked back at Gabe. She wanted to see his reaction when he opened his eyes. Surely if it took her breath away it would take his too.

"Okay open…," Sam whispered softly. His eyes fluttered open and he took a sharp intake of breath. His face lit up and she swore his eyes watered.

"Wow." He gasped then looked at Sam and smiled. "Thanks…for doing all of this…it's amazing."

"It gets better…sit up."

He looked at her questioningly and sat up.

"Holy…" he muttered before looking down at her again.

"I know." Sam sat up and looked out over the lake. It reflected off the night's sky making an exact replica. She lay back down and Gabe slowly did the same.

"If it weren't for my fear of snakes I'd lay right here all night."

Sam laughed. "I wouldn't be worried about the snakes…"

Gabe shot upright but Sam laughed and grabbed his hand again pulling him down.

"I'd be worried about getting trampled."

He looked over at her again questioningly.

"Wild horses…they come here to drink."

His eyes widened with what looked like delight. "Wild horses? Here?"

Sam nodded.

"Do they ever come at night?" Right as Gabe asked Ace whinnied.

Sam and Gabe jumped to their feet.

Sam smiled as the Phantom nickered and shook his head. "Sometimes…"