Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 149

Noah

Victory always carried a distinct sound.

Not the final whistle, nor the thunderous cheers from the crowd.

It was the burst of voices erupting inside the locker room after the game—the clatter of helmets, the sharp slap of high fives slicing through the air, and the entire team belting out the fight song as if we’d just clinched a championship.

Tonight, that sound was ours.

Ridgeville 21. Clearwater 14.

A hard-fought, grind-it-out victory in the fourth quarter—the kind of win that leaves your chest pounding and your lungs burning, but makes every bruise and hit worthwhile.

Jackson was beaming, his helmet tucked under one arm, strands of sweat plastered to his forehead. He’d thrown two touchdowns and handed off the final one to seal the deal. Classic Lombardi—steady and clutch when it mattered most.

He gave my shoulder pads a solid smack. “You killed it out there, Carter. That block in the fourth? Saved my ass.”

I grinned back. “Someone’s gotta keep the golden boy standing.”

“Wouldn’t want to mess up the school’s poster child,” he shot back with a smirk.

The locker room erupted in laughter.

That easy rhythm between us—it felt good. Normal. For once, there was no tension, no sideways glances, no wondering if we were still friends beneath all the noise.

Coach walked in, delivering his usual post-game speech about grit, discipline, and carrying momentum into next week. His voice was sharp but proud. Then he clapped once and said the words we’d been waiting for: “Go enjoy the win.”

And just like that, the room exploded.

Music blared, shoulder pads flew, guys shouted and danced half-dressed—it was chaos.

The best kind of chaos.

For a moment, I let myself get swept up in it—the exhilaration, the laughter, the feeling that maybe, finally, everything was settling back into place.

Then I heard Daniel.

“You owe me a thank you.”

His words cut through the noise like a knife.

Jackson froze mid-conversation, his smile fading instantly. “Ignore him,” he muttered, already reading the room.

But Daniel wasn’t backing down. He leaned casually against the lockers, like he owned the place, a smug smirk plastered across his face. “Come on, Carter. Be polite. I did you a solid.”

I straightened slowly, every muscle tensing. “What are you talking about?”

He tilted his head, feigning innocence. “You’ll figure it out. Let’s just say you owe me.”

Jackson stepped forward, his tone sharp and warning. “Daniel. Knock it off.”

Daniel’s smirk grew wider as his eyes flicked between Jackson and me. “I’m just saying, sometimes things happen behind the scenes. Keeps another friend’s life from getting… messy.”

I frowned, confusion and suspicion swirling inside me. “What the hell does that mean?”

He shrugged, calm and poisonous. “Ask your girl.”

Before I could react, Jackson’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm to stop me from stepping forward. “Don’t,” he warned quietly. “He’s baiting you.”

Daniel laughed, slinging his duffel bag over his shoulder like he hadn’t just dropped a grenade in the middle of the locker room. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just looking out for you. You’ll thank me later.”

Then he walked away, casual and unbothered, as if the tension he’d stirred didn’t exist.

Slowly, the noise around us returned—laughter, music, the usual postgame energy—but none of it sounded the same anymore.

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