Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 130

I didn’t sleep much.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Daniel’s smug face under the streetlights, heard his words echoing through my head like a broken record.

You so hard up for pussy you had to scrape the bottom of the barrel?

It had taken everything in me not to hit him again. But the damage was already done–in my head, in the team, in the way Jackson had looked at me last night.

When I pulled into the school lot that morning, it felt like the air was heavier than usual. People were everywhere- the parking lot buzzing with early chatter–but all I could think about was how many of them might’ve already heard what happened. Ridgeville gossip spread faster than wildfire.

I climbed out of my truck, slung my backpack over my shoulder, and tried to shake it off. Practice. School Routine. That’s what I needed.

I spotted Jackson by the locker room doors, leaning against the wall like he’d been waiting for me.

“Morning,” I said, trying to sound normal.

He nodded, arms crossed. “Rough night?

“Could say that.”

“Shane texted me,” he said. “Said it looked like you were about to kill Daniel.”

“Almost did.” I ran a hand through my hair. “He had it coming”

Jackson’s jaw flexed. “Yeah, well, Coach will probably hear about it before lunch, so brace yourself.”

“Great,” I muttered.

He sighed and pushed off the wall “Look, man… I get it. He’s been running his mouth for months. But you can’t let him win by proving him right.

That one stung a little. “Proving him right?

“You know what I mean,” Jackson said carefully. “You’ve been trying to stay under the radar, keep your head straight

for recruiters. Don’t let him drag you down into his crap.

I nodded, but inside, I was already slipping. Because Daniel’s words – as disgusting as they were – had a shadow of truth hidden in them. He’d said the quiet part out loud. The thing that scared me more than I wanted to admit.

That maybe me and Jessa… didn’t make sense to anyone but me.

Chapter 130

+25 BONUS

By the time I made it to my locker, the noise of the hallway was at full volume laughter, doors slamming. sneakers squeaking against the floor.

And then I saw her.

Jessa Lombardi, standing by her locker with Mariah, sunlight hitting her hair just right. She wasn’t wearing one of her oversized hoodies for once instead, she had on this soft yellow top, simple but bright, the kind of color that pulled your attention whether you wanted it to or not.

It wasn’t even about the shirt. It was her. The way she stood more relaxed, more present, like she was finally starting to believe she belonged in the room.

For a second, I forgot what I was supposed to be doing.

Jackson followed my gaze and groaned. “You seriously gonna keep staring or actually go talk to her?”

I shot him a look. “You always this supportive?”

“Dude, I’m trying not to think about it, alright?

homeroom.”

Let’s just pretend you’re not about to hit on my twin before

That earned him a smirk. “Who says I’m gonna hit on her?”

“You. Every time you breathe.”

I laughed under my breath and shut my locker. “I’m gonna go say hi.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, “just… keep it PG, Romeo.”

Walking up to her, my heart was doing this stupid, uneven thing

pounding harder the closer I got.

“Hey,” I said, leaning against the locker next to hers.

She turned, startled for half a second, then smiled a little. “Oh. Hey.”

“That’s new,” I said, nodding toward her shirt before I could stop myself.

Her brow lifted. “What, this?”

“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve seen you wear it before.”

“Probably because it was buried under about six hoodies,” she said dryly.

I grinned. “Well, glad it escaped.”

She rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched like she was fighting a smile.

Before I could say more, Mariah popped up beside her, all energy and sass. “Aww, you two are cute. But seriously, you need to stop looking like you’re in a CW drama. Just act normal, people.”

+25 BONUS

“For starters, no brooding stares or tortured sighs before first period,” she said, wagging a finger.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify