A/N: Okay, so we have a new fan in the Glee franchise! C: She's a very good friend of mine. I keep wanting to do a story based on season three for the Devine series, but I can't watch the third season until it goes on Netflix. I watched it on Hulu, but it's been a while and there are commercials there...

Disclaimer: I own no one of Glee, albeit I own Samantha Devine and every other character you don't recognize.

Summary: When Samantha Devine leaves LA for a week after the release of her new single, she stops at the place where she found her true self. Unfortunately, she gets there in time to see the boy who'd stolen her heart.

Pairings: Puck/OC eventual Finn/OC Brittany/Santana, Jake/Marley, Brody/Rachel

Get caught in the race of this crazy life
Trying to be everything can make you lose your mind
I just wanna go back in time to American honey
There's a wild, wild whisper blowing in the wind
Calling out my name like a long-lost friend
Oh, I miss those days as the years go by
Oh, nothing sweeter than summertime
And American honey

Gone for so long now, I gotta get back to her somehow
To American honey

Lady Antebellum — American Honey

"So, Samantha Devine. You're only eighteen and you're barely out of high school, yet the word on the street is that you're already cutting a new album! What's that like?" a perky blonde asked, crossing her legs on an overstuffed white armchair on the set of some talk show. Sam had honestly forgotten who this woman was. She glanced at the sky-blue background with the scrawling white italic letters bearing the name 'Wendi' across the back.

"Well, I've always wanted to record stuff that I write. I've gotta be honest, I'm a little blown away by it. It's kinda like I'm totally in my element here," she answered. The bright lights were nearly blinding and she could feel herself getting claustrophobic.

"It's been said that you were in a school shooting," Wendi commented. She was far too perky for Sam's personal liking, and far too nosy.

"Yeah, I was, but I don't really like talking about that," Sam replied, giving her a look. The thoughts still haunted her and she preferred to talk about it to her father, who could relate. These people didn't know her, therefore, they didn't need to know about the shooting. It was too personal to share.

"Well, when we come back, we're gonna have Gracie Flanigan talk about her new movie 'Death of a Star'!" Wendi said, immediately reverting back to overly peppy cheerleader. Sam didn't trust a pretty, perky blonde in a mini-dress getting a talk show funded by Daddy.

"And cut!" the director said. Sam stood up and shook Wendi's hand, forcing a smile before walking off the stage. Her manager Richie was on the other side. He looked like the quintessential LA agent with the oil-black hair slicked back, dark sunglasses, Melba-toast tan, Bluetooth with a Blackberry, and an expensive Armani suit.

"Sammie, baby, that was awesome! You nailed that interview like a split hog!" he crowed. Sam smiled quickly and played with a lock of her raven hair, fighting back her retort. She hated it when people called her 'Sammie' and she definitely hated being called 'baby.' It sounded derogatory to her. "Now we need to talk Letterman!"

"Actually, I was hoping to go home tonight and get some sleep. I'm running on fumes here, Rich," she requested. Richie laughed once, a humorless sound.

"That's what I love about you, Sammie, you know that? That sense of humor, kid, you kill me!" he declared. Sam gritted her teeth and felt her phone ring in her little clutch. Kurt.

"Kurt!" she said happily. Immediately, her bad mood vanished. When someone from high school called, she always cleared her schedule to talk.

"Hey, I had a few minutes to eat and I thought I'd call you to see how you're doing," he said.

"I'm doing fine. I'm going home to get some sleep before I'm on the next stop on my talk show tour. I hope I can get to New York soon and see you and Rachel, I miss you guys so much," she replied. "You get free coffee from an up-and-coming singer."

"I heard 'Together Without You' on the radio at Vogue today and it was absolute magic. I got to rub it in Terrible Tabitha's face that I actually know you!" he gloated. Sam had to laugh. Kurt's nemesis at was Tabitha Faraday, the southern belle from hell, according to him.

Sam had written 'Together Without You' after a nasty breakup during senior year. She had moved away from Richie to go into her dressing room to change from the tiny pink and black lace one-shouldered dress into a pair of comfortable jeans and a T-shirt. September was a warm affair in California and she couldn't wait to get home, kick off those horrible heels and cuddle up with Shasta and watch reruns of CSI: NY.

"Can't wait to meet the famous Isabella Wright," she commented. Out of the graduates at McKinley, she, Kurt, and Mercedes had made it the biggest.

Sam could hardly take the people she worked with anymore. They were pushy, demanding, and she was burning out fast. She could probably count on one hand how many hours of sleep she'd had that week. Endless shots of espresso and her kidneys ached, but that was a sacrifice for cutting a new album.

"Richie, call a travel agent and book me a round-trip ticket for Columbus, Ohio and space them a week apart," she commanded him from the bathroom in her producer's apartment. She stared at her disheveled reflection. Her ice-blue eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot from lack of sleep and a poor diet and her temper was shortening. "And can someone get me a water bottle? I swear, I'm out of water to even sweat out."

"What the hell is in Ohio that would make you wanna leave the City of Angels?" Richie inquired from the living room. Sam rolled her eyes and walked out of the bathroom. Shasta glared at the man sitting in her spot on her couch. Mikey adored the husky and gave her whatever she wanted. If it was a spot on the couch, he'd buy her a whole damn living room set. Shasta got spoiled, there was no doubt about that.

"All I've met here are devils," she muttered. She looked up at the older man who offered to produce her album. "You don't mind if I'm gone for maybe a week, do you? I could just...really use the break. I haven't been sleeping properly and I just...I wanna go back to the place that inspired me."

"Columbus, Ohio inspired you?" Richie snorted from his perch on the couch. "Where the hell were you born, Sammie? Boondocks, USA?"

"How's about you shut your trap before I replace you?" Mikey snapped. His brown eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. Mikey Jeffrey only produced people he deemed real talent. It was a major honor for an invitation to be on his team. "This talent got inspired by Ohio. Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth, alright?"

"Thanks, Mikey. You're a damn saint," Sam declared, reaching on her toes to kiss his cheek. He pretended to blush and he waved her off.

"I took a chance on you, kid. I put my neck on the line with my old man to get you in a studio and give you a chance. If going to Ohio produces more hits like 'Together Without You', then by all means, go there," he reminded her. He looked at Richie. "Book the damn flight, alright?"

"I appreciate it, I really do," she told him. She made her way into the massive kitchen to get a water bottle out of the stainless steel fridge. The water was cold as it slid down her throat and she shivered. "It's gonna be amazing to see McKinley again."

The first thing she did was pull out her cellphone and text her father to let him know she was flying into town soon. The rest would be a complete surprise to everyone.

Daddy, I'm flying into Lima to visit everyone :) Shh, it's a secret!

The response was almost instantaneous.

Okay! Miss you, honey!

Sam shoved her phone back in her pocket, feeling a smile on her lips. She walked back into the living room and stared at her agent.

"Yes, ma'am, that's correct...Richie Adams to book a first-class flight from LAX in Los Angeles, California to Dave Rice Airport in Lima, Ohio," he said, crossing his ankles. It was easier for her to slip under the radar under her agent's name than her own. "Yes, leaving at four am Wednesday? That's wonderful. Yes, absolutely."

Two days from now, she would be on a plane to Lima.

McKinley was exactly the same as Sam remembered it, though she only recognized very few people. It was order as usual: the jocks ruled the school while everyone else cowered in fear. She nearly ran into a short blonde girl with a high pony-tail and a Cheerios uniform.

"Watch it, bitch," the blonde snarled. Sam glared at the girl and gritted her teeth. Man, she remembered a time when she would have traded words, but now she was an adult. It was time to take the high road and silently curse the girl to a black death.

"Takes one to know one, child," she said instead. She could find the choir room blindfolded and she stood near the mouth of the doorway, leaning against the frame. When Tina looked over at her, Sam put her finger to her lips to hush her. Mr. Schue was talking about Sectionals, of course. "Hey, Mr. Schuester, sorry I'm late. Am I too late to sing Britney?"

She strolled in as if she'd never left and leaned against the piano, grinning up at him.

"Actually, Thing 1, you're about two weeks too late. But you're never too late to come home for a visit," he replied. She stretched on her toes and hugged him tightly. Tina let out a squeal and threw her arms around her. "For those of you who don't know, this is probably one of our biggest successes. The singer of the recent single, 'Together Without You', Miss Samantha Devine."

There was a round of applause as Thing 2 hopped down from his seat to hug her, along with Artie, Sugar, Blaine, and Brittany.

"Hey, you guys! I missed you so much!" Sam enthused, returning the hugs from everyone.

"What brings you back to McKinley?" Mr. Schue asked. Sam hopped on the piano, swinging her legs with a grin.

"This choir room, mostly. It's where I laughed, cried, loved, hated, nearly got in a fist fight, and spent the best two years of my life," she responded. There were some new faces, which delighted her. "This place is where I became a whole new me."

Artie and Thing 2 exchanged nervous glances.

"Well, we're more than glad to have you back. Guys, if there was anyone who rose from the ashes to make something of herself, it's this girl right here. She survived so much, yet turned it into a life lesson," Mr. Schue told them, resting his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm a girl who shushes inanimate objects and knows more about cars than this season's fashions," she quipped. She glanced up at her old choir teacher. "For those who don't know, these guys were my saving grace. You can count on these guys to be there for you and be like your own family."

"Marley's a pretty big fan of you, Thing 1. I think I've heard your new song about four times today because of her," Thing 2 said, looking at a pretty brunette with blue eyes. The brunette's eyes widened in embarrassment. Sam had to giggle at it.

"Well, that's a first," she commented, tilting her head.

"Hey, Sam, why don't you sing one of your songs for us?" Tina suggested. There were footsteps in the hall and Sam looked over her shoulder to see a tall, lanky guy saunter into the room.

For a second, she could have sworn her heart literally stopped in her chest and her blood froze.

"Finn?"