Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 160

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**Hearts Written in Silent Rain by Ava Bloomfield**
**Chapter 160**

Jessa

As Mariah pulled up to my house and I stepped out, the late-afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow across the living room. The light seemed to wrap around me, but at the same time, it highlighted the emptiness I felt in my arms. The absence of the dress bag we had just left at the seamstress shop made me acutely aware of how much I longed for that dress.

Three days.

That was the timeline I had to wait before that delicate creation would be returned to me.

Three days of wondering if all those careful pins and meticulous tucks would transform it into something that truly fit me, that would make me feel beautiful.

Three days before I would discover if I would be the girl Noah Carter wanted to take to Homecoming or if I would remain just the girl who was desperately trying to feel worthy of such a moment.

I kicked off my shoes, the familiar comfort of my room beckoning me. I fought against the spiraling thoughts in my mind, trying to focus on anything but the anxiety that threatened to consume me.

I was smoothing out my comforter for what felt like the third time when I heard the unmistakable sound of the front door creaking open.

“Jess?”

It was Jackson’s voice, and I felt a flicker of relief wash over me.

“In here!” I called back, my heart racing slightly.

He appeared in my doorway, his hair still damp from a recent shower, and clad in his Ridgeville Football T-shirt and practice shorts. But there was something in his expression, a tightness around his jaw, that sent a wave of unease through me.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice laced with concern.

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I had come to recognize as a sign of frustration.

“You’re not gonna believe this,” he said, his tone heavy with gravity.

My heart thudded in my chest. “What?”

Jackson stepped into my room, leaning against my dresser, and let out a long breath that seemed to carry the weight of the world.

“Daniel’s off the team.”

I blinked, momentarily stunned.

“…What?”

“Kicked off,” he clarified, his voice low. “As in, Coach is done with him. Permanently.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I could feel a mixture of shock and dread pooling in my stomach.

“Because of the party?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Because of the— the pool incident? Because of me?”

He hesitated, and the silence that stretched between us felt like a heavy answer in itself.

“Yeah,” he finally admitted softly. “Mostly that. And… everything else he’s pulled.”

I sank onto the edge of my bed, my fingers curling into the soft blankets as I tried to process this news.

“What if he comes after me?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my attempts to sound brave. “He blames me for everything.”

“Jess,” Jackson said firmly, crossing the room to crouch in front of me, his gaze steady and reassuring. “Daniel is an idiot, but even he isn’t stupid enough to mess with you after this.”

“You don’t know that,” I whispered, fear creeping into my voice.

“I do,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “Look—this wasn’t just a prank he got busted for. This was him almost hurting someone. That’s why he’s gone.”

I swallowed hard, the reality of the situation sinking in. “He’s going to be furious.”

“Yeah,” Jackson replied bluntly. “But that’s his problem. Not yours.”

I looked down at my hands, feeling the weight of his words but still unable to shake the anxiety that clung to me like a shadow.

“He’s going to think I ruined his life,” I murmured, the thought sending a shiver down my spine.

Jackson let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “He ruined his own life. Coach even said Daniel doesn’t know when to stop. He never has. This isn’t on you.”

I nodded slowly, though the nerves still clung to me like static electricity.

Jackson stood up and ruffled my hair playfully, a gesture I swatted away, but I couldn’t help but smile at his antics.

“I’m grabbing food,” he said, glancing back at me. “Mom’s working late. Want anything?”

“I’m okay,” I replied, though part of me wished I could distract myself with something delicious.

“Alright,” he said, pausing at the door, his voice softening. “Hey… whatever that dress ends up looking like after alterations? You’re gonna look good. Whether the damn pins behave or not.”

I blinked, taken aback. “You saw it?”

“I saw the Pinterest board Mariah made for it. Same thing,” he shrugged, a hint of mischief in his eyes as he walked out.

I snorted despite myself, the tension in the air lifting momentarily.

But as soon as the house fell silent again, the weight of everything came crashing back.

Daniel was off the team.

Noah was still choosing me.

And my dress—the one thing that filled me with both terror and excitement—was somewhere in a small sewing shop, being transformed into something new and beautiful.