If you haven't...read my story Jealousy first or this won't make much sense! If you have read Jealousy, I am glad you are continuing this saga with me! This picks up two weeks after Stella broke up with Kelly at the riverwalk. I hope you enjoy. Please comment/review/favorite/follow!
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Independence
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Chapter 1
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Firehouse 51
"Last night was insane" Stella said loudly walking into the firehouse.
Kelly was sitting at the squad table and looked up after hearing her voice. Stella did not mean to bring anything up in front of him
"What did you do?" Sylvie asked ushering her quickly through the doors
"Went to this amazing jazz club" Stella answered following Sylvie's lead to get away from Kelly
"That is awesome. Did you sing?"
"Not really, but I met up with the pianist after the show and we played a 10 second song and he want's me to come back on Saturday to sing a song with them
"So are you going to invite us?" Cruz said
"What do you mean?" Stella asked, hoping to keep her social life away from the firehouse
"Just thought it would be nice to hear you sing" Cruz said and put his hands up as if she was attacking him
"It is not that I don't want you to come, I would just prefer to have you all come after I sing there a few more times"
"Fine" Cruz said and walked away
"It is like he is Kelly's spy" Sylvie said
"I don't think Severide is asking him to do it" Otis said
"When was the last time you two spoke?" Herrmann asked after being quiet for a while
"I mean we are pleasant in passing, but I have not had a conversation since the day after we broke up"
"What? You never told me that" Sylvie exclaimed
"Yeah, cause it was hella awkward and I didn't want to relive it" Stella said
"Well now you have to tell us...it has been 2 weeks" Otis said
"Fine. To get everyone off my back"
"I have a feeling this is going to be funny" Herrmann said smiling
"Shut it. Alright so this is what happened...I was talking on the phone with Gabby about how things were without Kelly and I mentioned that I missed certain things about him..."
"What does Gabby have to do with this?" Otis said
"I am not done. I then went into all the things that I couldn't stand, but like stupid stuff. And I turned around to find Kelly sitting behind me"
"You were talking like that at the firehouse?" Herrmann questioned
"Seems like a bad idea" Otis added
"No. I was at a coffee shop near Kelly's apartment"
"It doesn't sound that bad. Did he hear you?" Sylvie said
"Yeah, he came over and made a comment"
"What did you do?" Sylvie asked
"I stumbled over my words trying to find an excuse and then Gabby told me to give the phone to Kelly"
"Did you?" Otis exclaimed
"This is Gabby we are talking about it" Sylvie laughed "Of course she did"
"Sylvie is right, you cannot say no to that woman"
"What did Gabby say to him?" Herrmann asked
"I don't exactly know, she said some stuff and then he handed the phone back to me. I guess someone called for a paramedic. She texted me to say she is okay, but won't be able to talk for a while"
"What did Kelly say when he handed the phone back"
"He said...I am glad you still talk to Gabby. I am not here looking for you. Just kind of used to it from when you lived with me. I am going to give you space, but if you ever need me, I want to be there for you...and then he waved goodbye and left"
"So you both are pretending you haven't seen each other because Cruz told me nothing about this"
"Can someone get Cruz to back off of Kelly. It is not helping anything" Stella asked her friends
"I am on it" Sylvie said
"Me too" Herrmann added
Luckily the bell rang for a call and the firehouse went rushing to the rigs for their first call of the day.
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After the call Cruz came and sat down next to Kelly. The rest of the squad guys got up and left knowing Cruz was going to bring up Stella.
"Stella kicked me out of the conversation" he said as if he felt burned by her
"Cruz, I don't need the 'Stella Day-by-Day"
"I am not pushing" Cruz started and Kelly's eyebrows went up "I just think you two are good for one another. I mean before you got all distant"
"See that is something that I do and have always done. She wants time to herself...I cannot argue with that"
"But you are giving up" Cruz said defeated
"She made it clear she needed time. I cannot push her to be with me just because I don't want to lose her."
"Isn't that what she wanted...for you to want her and let her in?"
"Maybe initially. I overheard her talking about me, she had a lot to say and not all of it was that she wanted me back. It was more about how she didn't want to lose herself. The last thing I want is to be blamed for that"
"You want me to back off and stop reporting to you"
"I do. So go find the guys, we are going to do drills"
"Sure thing Lieutenant"
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Molly's
Stella was working behind the bar and a few of her new friends that she met through Tyler were at the bar
"Tyler comes back into town next week" one of the girls said
"And" Stella questioned pouring a beer from the tap
"Well, how did things end with you two?" the girl added
"Nothing happened, I did a favor for him, he asked if we could see each other again and the end"
"Why are you getting all defensive? I was only asking to see if it would be cool for all of us to go out"
"Why would you think it went badly?"
"Because we can tell he likes you, but that he also was seeing someone at Baylor" the girl continued
"Like dating?" Stella questioned a little bit shocked
"No, just going out together and getting to know one another. Like he only met her a week before he first came out to Chicago" another new friend said
"Oh, well that is a good thing, right?" Stella asked "He isn't like waiting for me right?"
"Oh god no, they are totally sleeping together" the girls boyfriend stated
"Phew" Stella said
"So we only brought it up because we think he is bringing her. And our concern is that he wants to see how you will react."
"That is messed up" Otis popped up, clearly listening in on the conversation "you realize that means Kelly was right"
"I never said Kelly was wrong" Stella said "I just didn't think that was his only motive"
"It definitely wasn't Tyler's intention, but I am sure coming in between you two didn't make him feel bad. He has always been a bad boy, you should know that" the male said
"Yeah, I can see that. Regardless if Tyler was involved, Kelly and I would have probably still split up."
"Anyway, I wanted to give you a heads up because I feel like we are friends and I have no loyalty to either one of you...I am just the girlfriend of the friend"
"Thank you, I appreciate that"
"She has an ulterior motive also..." the male said
"I have a a guy friend who is new to Chicago and maybe thought it would be nice to have a date in case"
"I have no intention of making anyone jealous. Kelly or Tyler. I just want to date myself" Stella said
Her friends and Otis laughed
"She is serious" Herrmann said
"Whatever, I still think he could use a friend" the girl said
"I would happy to be his friend" Stella smiled and walked away saying "I just want my independence"
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This story is going to be more playful than the last. Focusing more on Stella and character development outside of the firehouse. But, who else is looking forward to tomorrow's episode. Hoping to post one more chapter before the show airs.
