Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Noah

The football field sat dark and empty when I pulled up, the only light coming from the streetlamps along the lot. The party was still echoing in my head–the music, the laughter, Daniel’s smug voice.

I parked a street over, like I always did when the lots filled up. It was quieter here. The night air was cold enough to bite as I got out, slamming the door harder than I meant to. My knuckles still throbbed from where they’d connected with Daniel’s jaw.

I should’ve felt guilty.

But I didn’t.

I leaned back against the hood, staring out across the field. It looked different without the floodlights blazing – smaller, somehow. I’d spent years on that grass, sweating, running drills, taking hits. This place usually cleared my head. Tonight, it barely touched the noise inside me.

All I could hear was Daniel’s voice.

You into fat chicks now, Carter?

He said it loud, like he wanted everyone to hear. Like Jessa was some kind of joke.

The thought made my hands curl into fists again.

I didn’t even see Jackson coming until his headlights flashed across the grass. His car rolled to a stop a few spaces away, and for a second, I thought about getting back in my truck and leaving. But that wasn’t my style.

He climbed out, hood pulled up, jaw tight. “You’re a hard guy to track down.”

“Didn’t feel like being found,” I muttered.

“Yeah, well…” He looked at me, his breath visible in the chill air. “That was one hell of a scene you caused.”

“I caused?” I snapped. “You were standing right there, man. You heard him.”

“I did,” he said carefully. “Doesn’t mean punching him in front of everyone was the move.”

“He deserved it.”

Jackson crossed his arms. “I’m not saying he didn’t. I just wish it hadn’t been you throwing it.”

I scoffed, kicking at the gravel under my shoe. “You’re pissed at me for defending your sister?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t twist this. You think I didn’t want to hit him too? I did. But you know how this works, Noah. Now everyone’s gonna be talking about you. Not Daniel, not what he said. Just you losing it.”

“Good,” I said flatly. “Maybe it’ll make the next idiot think twice before running his mouth.”

He let ran a dow bersih and rubbed the bark all Nic deck. “Vras says gotta go zeny to a hundred, don’t you?”

theres them in vilence for a minute, the only end the wind whialing through the bleacher

“Marish teard “Jackson and finally “She’s taking Jessa home Sand your little explosion turned Daniel intes the toch clemen Gores the handled herself.

a flicker of pride cut through my anger. “Yeah? Good for her.”

Jackson’s gaze shifted, studying me like he was trying to solve a puzzle. “You like her, don’t you?”

I didn‘) anNET.

Come on “he pushed. “You think I don’t see it? The way you look at her, like she’s something you’re not supposed to want but can’t help it.”

I met his stare head–on. “So what if I do?”

He frowned. “Then that’s a problem.”

“Why Because she’s your sister?”

“Because she’s been through enough, and the last thing she needs is to be some rumor or rebound for my best friend”

I clenched my jaw. “You think that’s all it is?”

“I don’t know what it is,” he admitted. “But I’ve seen you with girls before, man. You get bored fast.”

“That’s not fair

“Maybe not,” he said, tone softening, “but it’s the truth.”

Something in his voice wasn’t anger anymore – it was guilt.

He looked down at the field. “You know, Daniel said something before I found you.

“Let me guess

more trash?”

“Yeah Said since when do I care about Jessa. Said I used to laugh at his jokes too.” Jackson’s voice dropped lower: “And he’s right. I did I laughed i didn’t stop him, didn’t tell him to shut up. I let people make her feel small because it was easier than standing up for her

That admission hit harder than anything Daniel could’ve said.

Jackson let out a breath that sounded like it hurt. “But that stops now. I’m done pretending it’s funny.”

I studied him for a long second. He meant it – I could tell by the way his voice cracked just a little. “Good,” I said finally. “Because she deserves better than all of this.”

He gave a short nod then kicked at the dint near his shoe “So what now?”

“Still are,” he said.

“Speak for yourself.”

That earned a faint grin from him – the first real one all night.

50 vouchers

The waitress dropped our food, and for a few minutes we ate in silence. The coffee was bitter, the pancakes too sweet, but it was something.

Finally, Jackson spoke again. “You really like her, huh?”

I nodded once. “Yeah. More than I expected to.”

He leaned back, exhaling. “Then do me a favor. Don’t make her the reason you and I fall apart.”

“I won’t.” I said.

“Good,” he said, finishing his coffee. “Because I meant what I said — it stops now. The jokes, the crap people say about her, all of it. If anyone’s got something to say, they can deal with me.”

That made me smile a real one this time. “Guess we’re on the same side after all.”

–

“Yeah,” he said, sliding out of the booth. “Took us long enough.”

Outside, the air had turned colder. The horizon was starting to pale, morning creeping closer.

Jackson shoved his hands in his pockets. “You heading home?”

“Probably,” I said. “Gonna clear my head first.”

He nodded, then paused. “Hey, Noah?”

“Yeah?”

He hesitated. “Thanks. For standing up for her.”

I didn’t answer – just gave a short nod before walking toward my truck.

As I drove off, the first light of dawn broke across the field in the distance. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t thinking about football, or school, or how to win the next game.

All I could think about was Jessa

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