Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 123

+25 BONUS

Jessa and Noah had barely pulled out of the lot when Marlah glanced over at me, a slow grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. Noah’s truck disappeared down the street, taillights fading into the orange wash of the late afternoon. I shoved my hands into my hoodie pocket, pretending not to think too hard about the fact that my twin sister just left with my best friend.

“So…” Mariah tilted her head, that teasing look already in her eyes. “What do we do now?”

I huffed out a laugh. “I don’t know–grab food, hang around, act like we didn’t just watch my best friend drive off with my sister?”

She smirked. “Or you could stop pretending you’re not freaking out about it.”

“Who says I’m freaking out?”

She arched an eyebrow. “The vein popping out of your neck kind of gives it away.

I snorted and leaned back against my car, running a hand through my hair. “I’m not freaking out,” I said again, though even I didn’t sound convinced. “It’s just… weird, you know? Noah and Jessa. Never thought I’d see the day.”

Mariah folded her arms and stepped closer, the late–day sun catching in her hair. “Weird’s not always bad.”

I gave her a side glance. “You talking about them or us?”

Her grin widened. “Maybe both.”

For a moment, neither of us said anything. The parking lot had mostly emptied, just a few cars left, and the low hum of a mower somewhere in the distance. She looked so relaxed, leaning there in her faded jeans and that black hoodie she practically lived in. Confident, playful, nothing like the girls who tried too hard to impress

anyone.

“So,” I said finally, smirking a little, “about that kiss at Benny’s…”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Which one? The one where I shocked everyone or the one where you shocked me?”

“Both were pretty memorable,” 1 admitted. Then, with a small shrug, “I liked it. A lot.”

Mariah rolled her eyes, though I saw the hint of pink rise on her cheeks. “You’re just saying that.”

“Nope,” I said, stepping a little closer. “Pretty sure I liked it enough that I wouldn’t mind practicing that whole kissing thing again.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Oh, so that’s what this is? You had Noah wish Jessa away so you could make out with me in the school parking lot?”

I

“Hey,” I said, grinning, “if I had that kind of power, I’d have used it a long time ago.”

She gave me a mock glare but couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re such an idiot.”

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Chapter 123

“Yeah,” I said easily. “But I’m your idiot right now.”

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de looked toward mycar. “So are

She laughed again, that low, warm sound that always got under my ski we just going to stand here flitting, or are you going to let me in your car beite people start rumors?”

I gave a mock gasp. “People already have rumors. This would just confirm them.”

She rolled her eyes, opened the passenger door, and slid in without another word. I climbed in on my side, shutting the door behind me. The space between us felt small suddenly, charged in a way that made it hard to breathe.

“This.” She gestured vaguely between us. “You and me. I mean, a few weeks ago, I didn’t even think we’d be hanging out like this. Now you’re talking about practicing kissing.

I cut her off. “Mariah Morales, who doesn’t take crap from anyone and kissed me first in front of an entire diner. Trust me, I noticed.”

That made her laugh again, and something in my chest eased. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been since this whole Jessa–Noah thing started. Somehow, being with Mariah just leveled it all out.

“You really are something else,” I murmured.

“I get that a lot,” she teased. Then, softer, “But you know this is kind of strange, right? Our best friends are probably on some awkward almost–date, and we’re sitting here pretending that’s not totally bizarre.”

I shook my head. “No. I mean, Noah and Jessa–they’ll figure it out. And us?” I smiled faintly. “Maybe we just… see where it goes.”

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