Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 211

Chapter 211

Noah

The final whistle blew and everything exploded.

The scoreboard still glowed over the field–Ridgeville 21, Clearwater 14–but the numbers barely registered because my ears were full of shouting, my chest was full of fire, and my legs were shaking in that good, earned way. 1

We’d done it.

We beat them.

And somehow, against every ounce of pressure and noise and chaos, we’d played better without him.

I ripped my helmet off as guys piled into each other, Reyes nearly tackling me in celebration, someone yelling about food, someone else yelling about how Jackson was a damn legend.

I laughed, breathless, dizzy.

Then I saw him.

Daniel.

Still in his Clearwater uniform.

Standing near the edge of the field, helmet tucked under his arm, face tight with something that wasn’t just anger.

For a second, the whole night rewound in my head.

The party.

The pool.

Jessa’s face.

The coach’s office.

Him getting kicked off our team.

And now here he was.

On the other side.

We’d just beaten his new team.

Jackson noticed him at the same time I did. His jaw clenched. “Don’t.”

“I’m not,” I said.

But I already knew I was going to.

I handed my helmet to Reyes and walked toward him before I could overthink it.

1/5

+25 Bonus

The noise of the stadium faded with every step.

He didn’t move.

Just waited.

Up close, he looked different. Still cocky. Still built like a football poster. But there was something… cracked in his eyes.

“So,” he said. “Guess you got your storybook ending.”

I crossed my arms. “We won a game.”

“Yeah,” he said. “You always get those.”

“Why are you talking to me, Daniel?”

He scoffed. “Relax. I’m not here to start a fight. I just wanted to see if it was worth it.”

“Was what worth it?”

“Burning everything down,” he said. “Your team. Your friendship. Your reputation.”

I stared at him. “You did that yourself.”

His mouth twitched. “Funny how everyone says that.”

“You almost got her thrown into a pool,” I said. My voice went cold. “You don’t get to pretend this is some misunderstanding.”

His eyes flicked away for half a second.

Then back.

“You think you’re a hero now?” he said. “Dating the sad girl? Getting your redemption arc?”

My jaw tightened.

“Don’t talk about her.”

“Why?” he shot back. “Because she’s your charity project?”

I took a step closer. “She’s my girlfriend.”

He laughed, but it sounded wrong. “You really think this lasts? You think scouts are gonna love that story?”

“There it is,” I said. “That’s what this is really about.”

He stiffened.

“You think I don’t know how this works?” he snapped. “Image matters. Perception matters. You think the wrong girlfriend doesn’t follow you into interviews?”

I stared at him. “If that’s how you see people, you don’t deserve any of it.”

2/5

Chapter 211

+25 Bonus

His eyes burned. “You’re throwing your future away.”

“No,” I said. “I’m choosing it.”

He shook his head. “You’re choosing her.”

“Yeah,” I said. “And I’d do it again.”

We stood there, the noise of celebration roaring behind me, the silence of defeat hanging around him.

“You won tonight,” he said. “On the field.”

“I’m not competing with you anymore,” I said.

That seemed to hit harder than anything else.

He swallowed. “Clearwater’s not my last stop.”

“Maybe not,” I said. “But Ridgeville is.”

His jaw clenched.

Then he said quietly, “They don’t stay.”

I looked him dead in the eye.

“She will.”

He searched my face like he wanted to find doubt.

He didn’t.

Finally, he shook his head and stepped back. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Then he turned and walked toward his team.

And for the first time?

I didn’t feel like following.

I turned back toward our side of the field.

Toward the noise.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify