9-1-1 ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ sʜᴏᴛs

Attacked - Bobby Nash

Nova Nash - 21

The late afternoon sun filtered through the large windows of the classroom, casting long shadows on the floor. The soft hum of fluorescent lights was the only sound as most of the students had already left for the day. Nova Nash stood near the door, glancing at the clock, her fingers absently playing with the strap of her bag slung over her shoulder. The day had flown by, filled with the usual chaos and energy that only a room full of elementary school kids could bring. But now, the classroom had grown quiet, save for the soft shuffle of papers and zippers as one student lingered behind.

Christopher Diaz, who had just turned 12 a few months back, sat at his desk, carefully organizing his belongings with a look of determination on his face. She admired how independent he was, always trying to do things on his own despite the challenges. He was one of the most positive kids she'd ever met, and his resilience always left her in awe.

"Hey, Chris, you doing okay there?" Nova asked with a warm smile, walking over to his desk.

Christopher looked up from his bag, his own smile forming as he nodded. "Yeah, I'm just trying to make sure I don't forget anything. Dad says I leave a trail of stuff everywhere I go," he chuckled, the sound light and easy.

Nova laughed along with him. "Well, I think we all do that sometimes. But we'll make sure you've got everything, just to prove your dad wrong this time."

She knelt down beside him, helping him zip up the pockets on his bag. It was a routine they'd fallen into over the past few weeks since she'd started working at the school. Nova had always liked kids, but working with them, especially someone like Christopher, had brought her a sense of fulfillment she hadn't expected. It wasn't just a job for her—it was a place where she felt like she could make a difference, even if it was something as small as helping someone pack their bag at the end of the day.

"How was school today?" Nova asked, lifting his bag and placing it gently on his back, adjusting the straps to make sure it was comfortable.

"Pretty good," Christopher replied, his face lighting up. "I got a hundred on my science quiz!"

Nova's eyes widened with pride. "Chris, that's awesome! You've been working so hard on that."

"Yeah, I was kinda nervous, but Dad helped me study. He made flashcards and everything," Christopher said, his voice filled with pride for his father. "He's really good at that stuff."

"Your dad's good at a lot of things," Nova agreed, grinning. She knew Eddie well—after all, her father, Bobby, worked with him at the firehouse. Growing up around firefighters, Nova had always seen them as larger-than-life figures, and Eddie Diaz was no different. The way he cared for Christopher, juggling the demands of his job while being an incredible father, was something she admired deeply.

Christopher smiled but then hesitated for a moment, glancing at the ground before looking back at Nova. "Do you think... I mean, when people get busy like my dad... do they still worry about me?"

Nova's smile softened. She understood where he was coming from. "Chris, your dad loves you more than anything. Trust me, even when he's busy, you're always on his mind. That's just how parents are. They can't help but worry about us, no matter how old we get."

He seemed to take comfort in that, nodding slowly. "I guess. Sometimes I just don't want him to feel like he has to worry so much, you know?"

"That just means you care about him too," Nova said, standing back up and giving him a gentle pat on the back. "But it's okay for him to worry. It's part of being a dad. And if you ever need someone else to talk to, I'm always around."