Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 162

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

**Noah**

By the time third period rolled around, Ridgeville High buzzed with an energy that felt like a volatile cocktail of gasoline and rampant rumors, igniting every corner of the school.

The whispers were relentless, each one more outrageous than the last, and they all revolved around Daniel.

“He got expelled—”

“He punched a cop—”

“He got recruited by a cult—”

It was absurd. It was infuriating. It was deafening.

With a frustrated grunt, I slammed my locker shut, the metallic clang echoing down the hallway, a sound that seemed to punctuate my irritation.

Jackson, leaning against the nearby wall, picked up a textbook and shot me a sideways glance. “Bro. Locker abuse isn’t going to resurrect him,” he said, his tone teasing yet serious.

I let out a derisive snort. “Feels like it might, though.”

As we trudged down the crowded hallway, I could feel the weight of countless eyes on us, curious and judgmental. They had all seen the chaos unfold online, and now we were like walking reminders of it. I chose to ignore the stares; I had more pressing matters on my mind.

Then, from the sea of faces, I spotted her.

Jessa.

She was engaged in a quiet conversation with Mariah, her binder snug against her chest, her hair framing her face like a gentle halo. She wore that vibrant red sweater that seemed to infuse the drab hallway with a splash of color, making everything around her look a little less bleak.

But her expression…

It was neither sadness nor anger.

It was something heavier, more complex.

Without a moment’s thought, I found myself striding toward her, drawn in by an invisible thread.

Mariah caught sight of me and smirked, slipping away like she had orchestrated the whole thing.

“Hey,” I greeted her, my voice steady.

Jessa looked up, her eyes meeting mine.

“Hi,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, a fragile sound that sent a pang through me.

“You okay?” I asked, lowering my voice, sensing the weight of the moment.

She hesitated, and that small pause sent alarm bells ringing in my mind.

“I just…” She swallowed hard. “I feel bad about Daniel.”

That was the last thing I expected to hear from her.

“You feel bad?” I echoed softly, trying to understand.

She nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I know he’s done terrible things. I know he pushed people away. I know he crossed lines. But hearing he’s off the team for good… I don’t know. I can’t help but feel something.”

I stepped closer, moving slowly, giving her the chance to retreat if she wanted, but she didn’t.

My fingers brushed her cheek, a light touch that made her breath hitch, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through me.

“Jess,” I said quietly, “feeling bad doesn’t mean you’re wrong. It means you’re human.”

Her eyes blinked rapidly, as if she were trying to process my words.

“But listen to me,” I continued, my voice low and earnest. “Daniel dug his own grave. He never cared who he hurt in the process. You, on the other hand, you care. That’s what sets you apart from him.”

Her eyes softened, filling with emotion, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Damn, that feeling clawed at something deep within me.

“Can I… walk you to class?” I ventured, my heart racing at the thought.

This time, she smiled—a small, shy smile that felt like a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds.

Before she could respond, Mariah swooped in, her presence like a whirlwind.

“Oh my GOD,” she exclaimed dramatically. “Stop asking every single day. Just walk with her already! What is this, a 1998 teen sitcom?”

Jessa turned a shade of crimson, and I could feel heat rising in my own cheeks.

Mariah sashayed away, muttering about “straight boys and their tragic social skills,” leaving us in a bubble of awkwardness.

But Jessa laughed—a soft, genuine sound that made my heart leap.

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