Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Jessa

The scene unfolding outside Bethany Jones’ house looked like it had been ripped straight from the opening sequence of a horror film centered around reckless teenage choices.

Cars were parked haphazardly, lining every inch of the street.

The music blasted so loudly it seemed to shake the very ground beneath our feet.

Voices echoed—some filled with excitement, others tinged with fear.

A fog machine pumped out thick clouds of smoke, drifting unnaturally across the front yard, as if someone was trying to summon spirits from the beyond.

Mariah pulled up a block away, raising an eyebrow. “Well, if the cops don’t show up tonight, they’re seriously slacking.”

My stomach twisted into knots.

I wasn’t prepared for this.

The last party I’d attended was the bonfire—the one where I kissed Noah Carter, where Jackson caught us, and where everything blew up online.

And now, here I was again—

stepping back into the chaos.

I let out a slow breath. “Why am I even doing this?”

Mariah flashed a mischievous grin. “Because you’re a teenager, because Noah Carter asked if you were coming, and because we’re trying this new thing where you do brave stuff, even when it scares the hell out of you.”

I snorted softly. “That sounds made-up. And dangerous.”

“Life’s both,” she said, swinging her door open. “Come on.”

We climbed out of the car and crossed the street toward the house.

The sharp October air bit at my cheeks, but it was my nerves that made me shiver.

The instant we stepped onto the driveway, the noise hit me like a tidal wave.

Kids chanting loudly.

Water splashing.

A boy’s high-pitched scream, like he’d just lost a limb.

“Oh,” I whispered, “someone just jumped in the pool.”

A group of juniors erupted in cheers, yelling, “HE’S ALIVE!” as a drenched, shivering senior hauled himself out of the water.

“High school,” Mariah said dryly, looping her arm through mine. “The peak of human intelligence.”

I tried to laugh, but my heart was pounding too fiercely.

Then I froze.

Because I saw him.

Noah.

Standing near the backyard gate, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, chatting with Jackson.

His breath puffed out in the cold air.

His hair was tousled slightly from the chill.

And when his eyes scanned the crowd and finally landed on me—

everything else faded away.

That warm, stunned smile.

The one that always made my knees feel like jelly.

Mariah nudged me gently. “He sees you.”

Yeah.

I felt it.

Noah began walking toward us, his steps steady and sure, as if this was the only reason he’d come tonight.

My pulse thundered in my ears.

I didn’t want to let myself hope too much.

To assume too much.

To be wrong.

But the way he looked at me…

“Hi,” I breathed as he reached us.

“Hey,” he said softly—like that word belonged only to me.

My stomach flipped.

Mariah cleared her throat loudly. “Okay, lovebirds, I’ll go pretend to be responsible somewhere else.”

She disappeared inside, leaving me standing there in the cold with Noah.

He pushed his hands deeper into his pockets, his gaze slowly roaming over me—not in a creepy way, but carefully, like he was checking if I was alright. If I wanted to be here.

“You look… good,” he said.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “You too.”

He chuckled softly. “I look like I just sprinted through a wind tunnel, but thanks.”

I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Are you cold?”

“No,” he replied, eyes softening. “You?”

“No,” I lied.

We stood there for a moment, awkward but warm, and something else—something I couldn’t quite name.

Finally, he nodded toward the backyard. “Want to take a walk? Somewhere quieter?”

My heart jumped.

But I didn’t let myself overthink it.

“Yeah,” I said.

He led me around the corner of the house, where the noise faded just enough. Strings of soft golden lights hung along the fence, their glow reflecting in a small puddle left from someone’s earlier cannonball.

We stopped beneath a tree, the music now a distant thump.

He looked at me then—

really looked.

“Jessa,” he said quietly, “I’m glad you came tonight.”

My breath caught.

I didn’t know what to say; whenever I tried to speak around him, my thoughts scrambled like broken eggs.

So I just nodded.

He stepped closer—slowly, giving me every chance to pull away.

I didn’t.

“I keep thinking about our date,” he murmured.

“I know,” I whispered back. “Me too.”

“Yeah?”

His voice held a hopeful edge that made my chest ache.

I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

He moved another step closer.

Barely an inch.

But enough for me to feel his warmth.

He lifted his hand, hesitating for a moment before gently brushing his thumb across my cheek—tentative, as if I were something fragile and precious he wasn’t sure he was allowed to touch.

My heart skipped a beat.

He whispered, “Can I kiss you?”

I nodded before my mind could catch up.

Noah leaned in, eyes flicking to my lips, breath faintly minty and warm against the chilly night air.

Then—

“HEY EVERYONE, LOOK!”

The moment shattered.

We jerked apart.

A group of guys—Daniel leading them—stumbled toward us, clearly buzzed, clearly foolish, and definitely way too loud.

Daniel’s mouth curled into a cruel grin when he saw me.

“Well, well, well,” he slurred. “If it isn’t Romeo and the Whale.”

His words hit me like a blow to the stomach.

Noah’s expression darkened instantly. “Daniel. Shut up.”