Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Mariah

I didn’t think I was the jealous type.

Confident? Yes. Loud? Absolutely, Secure enough to flirt without overthinking every blink? That was basically my brand.

But apparently, nothing tests your emotional stability quite like watching your sort–of–boyfriend get crowned Homecoming King and suddenly become public property.

I spotted Jackson the second I walked into the hallway.

Which wasn’t hard.

He was surrounded.

Again.

Girls laughed too loudly at whatever he’d said. One of them touched his arm–casually, like it was nothing. Another leaned in close enough that I could see the lip gloss shine when she smiled up at him.

And then there was Tori.

Front and center. Of course.

Perfect hair. Perfect makeup. Perfect posture like she’d practiced being admired in the mirror her whole life. She stood just a little too close, her hand brushing his chest as she said something that made him laugh.

Not flirt–laugh.

But still.

My jaw tightened before I could stop it.

“Don’t,” I muttered to myself, adjusting the strap of my bag. “Do not spiral before first period. That’s embarrassing.”

I plastered on a smile and kept walking, heels clicking a little sharper than usual. 1

Jackson saw me then.

His face lit up–actual relief crossing his expression–and he stepped away from the cluster like he’d been waiting for an excuse.

“Hey,” he said, sliding closer to me. His hand found the small of my back automatically.

I hated how much that helped.

“Hey, Your Majesty,” I said lightly.

He groaned. “You too?”

“Oh, absolutely,” I replied. “I’m legally obligated now.”

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Chapter 194

He leaned down slightly, voice low. “You okay?”

I nodded too fast. “Totally.”

Lie.

He studied me for a beat longer, then sighed. “I’ll catch you at lunch, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Go… be adored.”

He winced. “Mariah.”

I smiled wider. “I’m kidding. Mostly.”

He hesitated like he wanted to say more, then the bell rang and the moment snapped apart.

As he walked off, Tori’s eyes flicked to me.

And she smiled.

Not friendly.

Not curious.

Possessive.

That stupid, victorious little smile that said I was queen once and I still matter.

My chest tightened.

I turned away before she could see anything crack.

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By lunch, I’d talked myself down exactly zero times.

I sat across from Jessa, poking at my food while pretending I wasn’t tracking every movement Jackson made two

seats over.

Jessa noticed. Of course she did.

“You okay?” she asked quietly.

“Fine,” I said automatically.

She tilted her head. “You sure?”

I glanced at her–really looked at her. She was calm. Grounded. There was confidence there now that hadn’t existed a few weeks ago.

And suddenly I felt ridiculous.

“I’m being stupid,” I admitted under my breath.

She frowned. “About what?”

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Cuptor 194

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Thesitated, then leaned in. “About… everything.”

Her eyes softened. “Mariah.”

“I don’t like the attention he’s getting,” I confessed. “And I really don’t like that she’s enjoying it.”

She didn’t have to ask who she was.

“Tori?” Jessa guessed.

I nodded. “She’s acting like she didn’t spend halftime practically climbing him.”

Jessa winced. “Yeah… I noticed.”

If I was just a phase before he settled into the role everyone expected him to play.

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