Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 132

Noah

By the time lunch rolled around, I was exhausted from pretending everything was normal.

I’d seen Jessa in the hall earlier that morning–smiling, talking with Marlah and I’d forced myself to keep things casual. Not because I wanted distance, but because I could feel the eyes on us. People whispered now when she walked by. Hell, when we walked by.

It made my chest feel tight.

I wasn’t ashamed of her. Not for a second. But I hated that every move we made felt like someone’s next post. And I didn’t want to drag her through more of that mess.

So yeah, maybe I’d been quieter than usual. Trying to keep my head down. Trying to not screw things up for her.

Now, sitting at the table in the Ridgeville cafeteria, with half the team spread out around me, it felt like my brain couldn’t shut off. Jackson was beside me, eating like he hadn’t seen food in a week, and Mariah and Jessa had just sat down across from us.

The table went quiet.

It always did now.

“Okay,” Mariah said finally, stabbing her straw through her drink, “are we all gonna sit here like we’re at a funeral, or are we going to talk like actual humans?”

That earned a few chuckles, breaking the ice. I smirked at her. “You always this bossy?”

“Only when necessary,” she said sweetly, then nudged Jessa. “Right?”

Jessa smiled a little, eyes dropping to her tray. She looked good today- bright yellow top, hair down, cheeks flushed. It was the kind of color that made the whole cafeteria seem less gray.

And it hit me all over again how easy it was to notice her now.

How hard it was not to.

A few minutes later, one of the guys – Shane leaned over his tray and said, “So, big question. Who’s everyone taking to Homecoming?”

That got everyone’s attention.

Jackson rolled his eyes. “We’re still a week out from the next game, and you’re already thinking about a dance?”

“Bro, priorities,” Shane said with a grin. “Can’t let the best options get taken.”

There was laughter, a few names thrown around. I stayed quiet, picking at the crust of my sandwich.

Mariah shot me a look. “What about you, Carter? You going?”

I shrugged. “Haven’t really thought about it.”

1/3

Chapter 132

“Liar,” she teased.

Jessa was quiet, sipping her drink.

Then, softly, she said, “I’ve… never been to Homecoming.”

The noise at the table died instantly.

Jackson looked up from his food, surprised. “Walt, really?”

+25 BONUS

She gave a small shrug. “Never got asked. Guess people figured it’d be weird going with the quarterback’s sister.”

The guys started talking again, voices rising, laughter returning, but my focus stayed locked on her.

Instead, I just said quietly, “For what it’s worth… I think you’d look amazing.

Her eyes met mine. The tiniest smile tugged at her mouth. “Thanks.”

It wasn’t enough. But it was something.

Across the table, Jackson was pretending not to notice the entire exchange, but I could feel his stare like a laser. He didn’t say anything, though–maybe because he knew I wasn’t about to back down this time.

2/3

Chapter 132

+25 BONUS

“Alright,” Shane said, breaking the tension again. “I’m thinking we all go as a group this year. No dates, no pressure. Just team spirit.”

Mariah smirked. “You just don’t want to ask anyone because you’re afraid of rejection.”

The table erupted in laughter, and for a moment, everything felt easy again.

But even as I laughed along, my gaze drifted back to Jessa.

She was smiling too, relaxed, leaning into Mariah’s shoulder as they joked about dance themes and decorations.

And I couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d said how no one had ever asked her.

How maybe, this time, that could change.

Chapter 133