"Hey hon, how was your day?" Stella asked as her daughter arrived home from school. She got no response which was somewhat expected. Noa had recently turned 16 and she seemed to be pushing her parents away lately. Stella turned her attention back to her computer as Noa padded up the stairs to her bedroom.
*SLAM*
Stella flinched.
"Noa don't slam the door" she said loud enough for her daughter to hear her.
"I'll do whatever the fuck I want" Noa angrily replied.
Stella put her computer down and walked up the stairs to her daughter's room. She knocked on the door and got no response.
"You can't talk to me like that. Open the door" she said through the closed door.
"No"
"Fine but you still need to talk to me."
Noa's voice softened "I don't want to talk to you."
Stella recognized the hurt in her daughter's voice. Something was not right. She slid down and sat against the doorframe. She could hear Noa sniffling.
"What's wrong babe? Did something happen at school today?"
Noa hiccupped and started crying louder "I don't want to talk about it, mom. Leave me alone."
Stella sighed. She was very worried about Noa but she didn't want to push too much.
"Okay. I am right downstairs if you change your mind. I love you."
Stella stood back up and went back downstairs to the couch. She picked up her phone from the table, punched the buttons, and put the phone to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey it's me, I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
"No you're good Stel" Kelly said on the other end of the line, "what's going on?"
"Something is up with Noa. She slammed her bedroom door when she came home and was rude to me. When I tried talking to her she started crying and said she didn't want to talk. I'm worried about her."
"I can try talking to her when I get home if you want," he offers.
"Okay. I just feel bad because I want to help her but I don't know how."
"I know you do. It's why I love you so much."
"I love you too, Kelly."
"I'll be home in a few hours and we'll figure this out."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Stella hung up the phone and smiled to herself. Even when things felt out of sorts she could always count on her husband to make her feel better.
—-
At 6 pm the front door opened and Kelly stepped inside.
"Luckiest man in the world is home" he hummed cheerfully.
"Hi babe" Stella greeted him, putting her arms around him and leaning up to kiss him.
"How's my girl?"
"I'm okay. Did a lot of boring paperwork today."
"I was talking about Noa but I appreciate you telling me about your day" Severide chuckled as he pressed a kiss to Stella's forehead.
"Oh oops. Sorry. She hasn't come down since she came home from school. I didn't want to push too hard."
"That was probably a smart choice. I'll go check on her."
Stella nodded in agreement as Kelly leaned forward for another quick kiss. He smiled at her and then turned around and walked up the stairs.
—-
"It's me" Kelly said as he knocked gently on Noa's door, "Can I come in?"
He waited a second and then heard the familiar clicking sound of the door being unlocked. He turned the handle and slowly opened the door. Noa sat in a chair at her desk, her back to her dad. Kelly walked to her bed and sat down.
"Mom says you're having a hard day. Do you want to talk about it?"
Noa shifted in her seat and turned to face Kelly but said nothing. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying. Her face started to crumple and fresh tears fell down her cheeks. Kelly got up from the bed, walked over to her, and put his arm around her and guided her back to the bed. She turned into her dad and cried into his t-shirt. Kelly put his arms around her in a bear hug and gently kissed the top of her head.
"It's okay. It's okay" he murmured, "I'm here. I've got you."
Noa's shoulders shook as she sobbed into his arms. They sat there not saying anything for a few minutes. Slowly Noa's sobs began to quiet and her body calmed. She sat up and wiped her face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.
"I think I'm ready now" she said as she sniffled.
"Take your time."
"I was eating lunch with Mariah and we were laughing and scrolling through our phones looking at dresses for prom. Mariah got a text notification from an unknown number. She opened it and…and it was someone asking her why she's eating lunch with the mutt."
Kelly felt his chest get tight.
"So Mariah is looking around the lunchroom trying to figure out who sent it and she sees Brianna waving at her and smiling. She went over to Brianna and asked her why she sent that and Brianna told her that she sent it because 'that's what Noa is, an ugly mutt. She would be so much prettier if she had a different mom'. Mariah didn't want to fight or make things worse so she just said she didn't agree and walked back to me."
Kelly's heart was pounding hard now. He could not believe what he was hearing.
"Is that why you didn't want to talk to mom?" he asked.
"Yeah" she replied, her lip quivering and tears starting to fall again, "I don't want to hurt her."
"I understand."
"I thought it would be silly lunchtime drama and go away but when I went back to my locker there was a picture taped on it. It was my face photoshopped on a dog's body" she whimpered.
Kelly felt his fists curling at his sides. He was furious. But he knew he had to keep it together for his daughter's sake.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry" he said.
"Dad, the picture is all over the school now. Everyone has seen it. They're all laughing at me" Noa said in near hysterics. She shoved her face into him and her tears soaked his shirt. Kelly put his hand on the side of her head and brushed her hair out of her face. He put her chin in his hand and looked her in the eyes.
"I promise you that I will not let Brianna and the school get away with this. I promise. I have your back always, Noa."
"I know," she mumbled.
They sat together in silence for the next ten minutes, Kelly holding Noa tight and reassuring her that it would be okay. That he would take care of her. That he loved her.
—-
Kelly came back downstairs alone. Stella was setting the table for dinner. She looked up and saw his face. The look on his face made her heart drop into her stomach. He tilted his toward the living room gesturing to her to come with him. They sat down on the couch facing each other, Kelly barely looking up at Stella.
"What's going on?" she asked,the concern growing on her face.
Kelly reached for Stella's hands and held them in his. He took a deep breath.
"I talked to Noa. She's not okay but she didn't want to upset you."
Stella sucked in a breath, her heart starting to beat faster, "just tell me what's wrong."
"One of the popular girls at school called her an ugly mutt and said she'd be prettier if she had a different mom," Kelly said "and they posted a picture of Noa's face on a dog's body all around the school."
"Jesus, that's horrible. What the hell is wrong with people?" she replied, her chest starting to heave in anger.
"I'm going to the school tomorrow to talk to the principal and get this dealt with because anyone who disrespects my daughter has to face the consequences. They will not get away with this."
"You really are the best man, Kelly Severide," Stella replied, giving him a kiss on the cheek, " do you want me to come too?"
"Up to you."
"Then I'm going. I dealt with some pretty nasty racism when I was in high school and I didn't have anyone to stand up for me. I don't want that for Noa. I'm standing up for her and for the younger me who didn't have anyone."
Kelly grinned and leaned forward to kiss his wife, "you should probably go up and talk to her now."
Stella nodded in agreement and stood up from the couch to go upstairs.
—-
Stella knocked on the door, "hey it's mom, can I come in?"
"Sure, ok."
Stella closed the door behind her as she entered Noa's bedroom. She sat down at the end of the bed opposite Noa.
"Dad told me about what happened at school today."
Noa turned her head away from Stella in shame. Stella leaned forward and took one of Noa's hands into her own.
"Oh sweet girl, it's okay. I am not upset."
Noa looked up at her mom, sadness in her eyes.
"Come here," Stella said gently, prodding her daughter into her arms.
Noa buried her face in Stella's chest, hot tears starting to fall. Stella comforted her, "shhh, shhh. It's okay. You're okay."
She rubbed circles in her daughter's back and after a few minutes Noa started to relax. Her breath evened out.
"Noa can you look at me for a minute?"
Noa slowly turned and looked at Stella. Stella reached up and, using her thumb, wiped the tears from her eyes.
" I don't ever want you to think you can't come to me about something. I'm your mom and I love you so much. I'm your biggest cheerleader and supporter. What happened today is unacceptable and your dad and I will be dealing with it tomorrow, okay?"
Noa nodded in understanding.
"Mom?'
"Hmm?"
"Am I ugly?"
"Noa Shay Severide you are the most beautiful young lady and I am not just saying that because I'm your mom."
"Really?"
"Really and truly."
Noa smiled softly for the first time in hours.
"Thanks mom. You're the best."
Stella smiled back at her and gave her shoulders a squeeze.
"Dinner is almost ready but before we head down I have a proposal for you. What would you think of taking the day off tomorrow and coming to the Firehouse with me? Your uncle Evan is coming to visit Aunt Violet tomorrow and I'm sure they'd both love to see you."
"I would really like that."
"Then it's settled. I'm looking forward to spending the day with you."
"Me too!"
"Why don't you wash up and come downstairs for dinner?"
"Okay."
Stella got up from the bed and opened the door to leave. She looked back at Noa.
"I love you, Noa. With all my heart."
"I love you too, mom."