Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 213

Jessa

Monday morning felt… different.

Not in a fireworks, everything–is–magical kind of way. More like the air had shifted just enough that I noticed when I stepped outside.

The sky was gray–blue and cool, fall hanging heavy in the air. I pulled my jacket a little tighter around myself while I waited for Mariah’s car, my stomach doing that annoying mix of fluttery and nervous it had apparently decided was my new personality.

Homecoming was over.

The

game was over.

Benny’s was over.

But the school?

The school was still the school.

I knew that.

Mariah pulled up, leaning across the seat to shove the door open for me. “Good morning, celebrity.”

I snorted as I climbed in. “Do not start.

She grinned. “I’m not starting anything. The school already did.”

That familiar knot tightened in my stomach, but I kept my face neutral. “How bad?”

“Eh,” she said, pulling out of the driveway. “Not horrible. Not great. You know. People.”

People.

That said everything.

—

We drove the rest of the way in comfortable silence, the radio playing something upbeat that felt slightly out of place with my thoughts. I kept replaying Friday night in my head the game, the win, Noah’s arms around me, the way it felt like the world had narrowed down to just us for a few perfect moments.

I didn’t regret any of it.

But I also wasn’t naïve enough to think everyone else would suddenly be nice.

The parking lot was already buzzing when we got there.

Groups of kids stood around talking, backpacks slung over one shoulder, phones already out. As soon as I stepped out of Mariah’s car, I felt it.

The looks.

Not openly mean. Not even obviously hostile.

Just… aware.

Like I was suddenly a topic.

I squared my shoulders and walked beside Mariah toward the doors.

“Remember,” she murmured, low enough only I could hear, “you don’t owe anyone anything. Especially not an explanation.”

“I know,” I said.

And I did. Mostly.

–

Inside, the hallway noise swallowed us up lockers slamming, voices echoing, someone laughing too loud. For a second, it almost felt normal.

Almost.

Then I heard it.

Not my name. Not directly.

Just pieces.

“-can’t believe-”

“-why him-‘

((

>>

-guess miracles happen-”

I didn’t look. I kept walking.

That was new.

Normally, I would’ve been shrinking by now. Trying to disappear. Pretending I didn’t hear it even though every word would stick in my head like a splinter.

But today… I just felt tired of it.

We reached my locker, and I started swapping books out. My hands were only shaking a little.

Mariah leaned against the one next to mine, scanning the hallway like she was daring someone to say something out loud.

No one did.

They never do when there’s a witness.

Then suddenly, arms wrapped around my waist from behind.

I yelped and nearly dropped my binder.

“Good morning,” Noah said near my ear, his voice warm and way too effective on my nervous system.

I turned, laughing despite myself. “You’re going to give me a heart attack.”

He grinned and kissed the side of my temple – casual, easy, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

And the hallway went quiet.

Not completely. But quieter.

I felt it more than heard it that collective pause, that sudden attention.

Noah didn’t seem to care.

“Sleep okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “You?”

“Like a rock.”

Mariah cleared her throat dramatically. “Good morning to you too, Romeo.‘

He smirked. “Morning, Mariah.”

“”

Then Jackson appeared beside us, shaking his head. “Okay, okay, enough making out with my sister before I have to bleach my eyes.”

>>

I rolled my eyes. “We’re not making out.”

“Yet,” Mariah said cheerfully.

Jackson ignored her and leaned in to kiss her anyway, right there in the hallway.

A few people nearby openly stared.

I couldn’t help smiling.

Noah squeezed me a little tighter before letting go. “I gotta run to my locker. I’ll be back to walk you to class.”

He brushed his fingers lightly along my cheek before turning away.

And that’s when I saw it.

People watching.

Really watching.

Some looked curious. Some annoyed. Some… almost disappointed.

Noah caught Jackson’s look and said, “You can tell who’s coupled up and who isn’t.‘

Jackson snorted. “Yeah. The ones who aren’t are way too busy watching the ones who are. They should really get a life.” 1 1

I stood there for a second, staring after Noah.

Part of me felt warm. Safe. Chosen.

Another part of me felt exposed.

Walking to class with him felt normal already, which was weird considering how new everything was.

We didn’t hold hands not because we were hiding, but because we were still… figuring it out.

But he walked close. His shoulder kept brushing mine.

I noticed people noticing.

3/7

Chapter 212

+25 Bonus

Some smiles. Some looks. Some whispers that stopped when we passed.

“So,” he said lightly, “surviving?”

“I think so.”

He glanced at me. “You okay?”

I considered lying. Then didn’t. “I can tell they’re talking. They’re just… quieter about it.”

He frowned. “They shouldn’t be talking at all.”

I shrugged. “They always do.”

He stopped walking and gently caught my arm, making me look at him. “Hey. You don’t have to pretend it doesn’t bother you.”

“I’m not pretending,” I said. And then, after a second, added, “It just… doesn’t hurt the same.”

He studied me like he was trying to memorize my face. “Good.”

Then he smiled. “Because you’re kind of amazing.”

I felt my face heat up. “You’re biased.”

“Absolutely.”

By lunch, the energy had shifted.

Not exploded. Not vanished.

Just… simmered.

We sat at our usual table

It was mostly normal.

Mostly.

me, Mariah, Noah, Jackson, and a few of the football guys.

Until I noticed how many times people glanced over.

One girl at another table whispered something and laughed. Another group went quiet when Noah looked their

way.

I poked at my food, appetite fading.

“You okay?” Mariah asked quietly.

“I think so,” I said. “I just… feel like I’m on display.”

Noah’s jaw tightened. “They’ll get bored.”

“People don’t get bored,” I said softly. “They just move on to the next thing.”

Shane, sitting across from us, snorted. “Yeah, but right now you’re the thing.”