Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 172

**Hearts Written in Silent Rain by Ava Bloomfield**
**Chapter 172**

**Mariah**

There are fleeting moments in life when I find myself pausing, just to reflect on the astonishing resilience of my best friend.

Damn… Jessa is actually holding her ground.

And today?

Today was a remarkable testament to that strength.

—

She was truly shining.

The entire makeup discussion, the hushed whispers, the sideways glances—she navigated it all with an air of confidence that was almost palpable. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she wasn’t crumbling like a flimsy lawn chair under the weight of judgment.

I could hardly contain my pride; it was as if my heart was swelling to the point of tears.

I leaned forward, barely suppressing an eye roll at Shane’s animated tirade about contouring when I felt a gentle brush against the small of my back.

Not just any hand.

Jackson’s hand.

He had been sitting beside me since the beginning of lunch, his presence a comforting constant. But now, he shifted closer, his thumb gliding across my skin for a fleeting moment before he withdrew, as if he hadn’t intended to make contact at all.

My stomach did a little somersault, a rush of warmth flooding through me.

I shot him a small, playful smirk, one that only he could catch.

He played it off, pretending nothing had happened, his gaze fixed intently on his tray as if the mashed potatoes were the most fascinating thing in the world.

Cute.

Very cute.

Just as I was about to unleash a snarky comment, Chris piped up, steering the conversation toward Homecoming.

“So we’re still on for the group thing, right? Saturday?”

—

A chorus of murmurs responded affirmatively, except for Noah, who looked as if he’d just seen his puppy kicked. It was clear he wanted to gaze at Jessa, but the struggle to keep it under wraps was evident on his face.

Shane, with a mouthful of fries, couldn’t help but grin.

“Well, we definitely know which couple is official now.”

Noah nearly choked on his food, and Jessa’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

I fought to stifle my laughter.

But before Shane could dive into a whimsical list of their imaginary wedding registry, Jackson cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Actually,” he said, his tone maddeningly casual, “I’m with Mariah.”

The atmosphere at the table froze instantly.

Forks hung in mid-air.

Mouths dropped open in disbelief.

I could have sworn I heard someone whisper, “Holy shit.”

My mind… went blank.

He said it.

Out loud. In public. At the lunch table.

“Noah and Jessa got together, and you two just… what, followed the vibe?” Chris snorted, breaking the tension.

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