Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 176

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

**Jessa**

As the sun broke through the clouds on Tuesday morning, Ridgeville High underwent a stunning transformation.

Bright streamers in vibrant shades of blue and shimmering silver adorned every corner of the school, fluttering gently as if celebrating their own existence. Posters proclaiming “Go Panthers!” plastered the walls, vibrant and full of energy. Near the gym, a speaker blared the fight song, the notes soaring through the air, while every third student sported glitter on their faces, as if we’d all been playfully ambushed by a mischievous raccoon wielding a bedazzler.

Typically, the chaos of spirit week left me feeling like a ghost, drifting unnoticed through the festivities. It was as if I were an outsider looking in, detached from the jubilance around me.

But today?

Today was different.

An electric current ran through the atmosphere, igniting a spark within me.

Perhaps it was because I felt changed this week.

Or maybe it was the rapid shift in my circumstances that, for once, felt like a positive turn.

Mariah, bubbling with excitement, practically yanked me through the entrance. “Alright, Jessa, Homecoming Week is officially kicking off! Get ready for complete and utter chaos!”

Her prediction was spot on.

The moment we stepped inside, the air buzzed with chatter about outfits, after-parties, spirit points, and the pep rally scheduled for Friday. The energy of the students was palpable, as if the entire school was vibrating with enthusiasm.

And then, like a soft whisper of wind, the murmurs began.

But these whispers were unlike the usual sharp, cutting comments I had grown accustomed to.

They were filled with curiosity.

With intrigue.

“Look, that’s her.”

“Isn’t that Jessa and Noah?”

“Dude, did you see? They kissed on the field!”

“Lucky! I wish someone would kiss me like that after a win.”

A warm flush crept up my cheeks—not from embarrassment, but from a blossoming sense of belonging. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I wasn’t the punchline of someone’s joke.

I was… part of something real and beautiful.

Mariah nudged me playfully with her elbow, a teasing grin spreading across her face. “Don’t look now, but I think someone’s got hearts in their eyes.”

—

I turned, and my stomach performed a delightful little flip.

Noah stood by the lockers, laughing with Jackson, his laughter ringing like music in my ears. His hair was still damp from his shower, a few stray strands falling charmingly over his forehead. He wore a slightly askew hoodie that somehow made him look effortlessly attractive.

But the moment he caught sight of me?

His entire demeanor shifted.

It was as if the rest of the world faded into a blur, leaving just the two of us in focus.

That look on his face sent warmth flooding through my chest, igniting a spark of happiness that I hadn’t anticipated.

He jogged over to me, his hand sliding beneath the strap of my backpack, caught in a moment where he seemed unsure whether he was greeting me or pulling me closer.

“Morning,” he said softly, his voice a low murmur that sent shivers down my spine.

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