Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Jessa

Benny’s was loud in that warm, messy, happy way that only happens after a big win.

The windows were fogged up from too many people and too much laughter. Someone had pushed a bunch of tables together, and half the football team was crammed around them, still in jackets and hoodies, still buzzing with adrenaline.

Everyone was talking at once.

Jackson was in the middle of it, of course–getting slapped on the back, getting his crown stolen and put on someone else’s head, getting it stolen back. Mariah sat beside him, pretending she was annoyed while absolutely glowing.

I watched them for a second and smiled.

Then I felt Noah’s hand find mine under the table.

Just like that. Natural. Easy.

My heart still hadn’t figured out how to act normal around him.

“So,” Mariah said, leaning across the table, “I vote we officially declare this the best homecoming game in Ridgeville history.”

“Only because we won,” someone said.

“Details,” she replied.

Everyone laughed.

Food came. Fries disappeared. Someone started arguing about whether Jackson’s run or Noah’s catch was the real game–winner. Jackson claimed it was obviously him. Noah rolled his eyes and said quarterbacks were allergic to giving credit.

I mostly just sat there, listening, watching, feeling… happy.

Really, actually happy.

At one point, Reyes leaned over and said, “You okay, Jess? You’ve been quiet.”

“I’m just… taking it in,” I said honestly.

Noah squeezed my hand again.

After a while, people started peeling off. Parents texting. Curfews. Exhaustion finally catching up.

Jackson and Mariah left together, still bickering.

Eventually, it was just me and Noah.

“You ready?” he asked.

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Chapter 212

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“Yeah.”

He paid for our part before I could even protest and walked me out into the cool night.

The parking lot was quieter than inside, the air crisp, the sky dark and clear. My ears were still ringing a little from all the noise.

We got into his truck.

For a minute, neither of us started talking.

He started the engine, then paused, glancing at me. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I said softly. “Just… today was a lot.”

“Good lot or bad lot?”

I smiled. “Good lot.”

He nodded and pulled out of the lot.

The drive was quiet in that comfortable way. The kind where you don’t feel pressured to fill the space.

Streetlights passed in slow, steady lines.

When he turned onto my street, something in my chest tightened–not in a bad way. Just… aware that the night was ending.

He pulled up in front of my house and put the truck in park.

Neither of us moved.

The porch light was on. My mom was probably pretending not to watch from the living room.

“Well,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Tonight was… kind of perfect.”

“Yeah,” I said. “It really was.”

He looked at me then. Really looked at me.

Not rushed. Not distracted.

Just… focused.

“I’m really glad you were there,” he said. “I kept looking for you in the stands.”

I felt my face warm. “I was proud of you.”

He smiled a little at that.

The silence stretched again–but different now. Charged. Soft.

“Jess?” he said.

“Yeah?”

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Chapter 212

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He reached out slowly, like he was giving me time to pull away if I wanted to, and brushed his thumb along my cheek.

I didn’t move.

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