Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 221

Chapter 221

Noah

By now, it wasn’t new.

Jessa and me:

Weeks ago, it felt like stepping onto a field with every set of eyes in the stands locked on my every move. Like one wrong step would get replayed in slow motion.

Now?

Now it just felt… normal.

Not boring. Not routine.

Just real.

She was my girlfriend. I liked being with her. I liked how she laughed when she was trying not to. I liked how she always looked like she was thinking about ten things at once. I liked the way she fit into my life without forcing anything.

And the talk?

The whispers?

Honestly, I was tired of giving it oxygen.

People were always going to talk.

That was what high school was–half classes, half everyone acting like they were reporters for some pathetic gossip network.

Most of them were bored.

They didn’t have anything going on in their own lives, so they made everyone else’s business their entertainment.

That wasn’t my problem.

I didn’t have anything to prove anymore.

Not to them.

Not to anyone.

By lunchtime, winter finally showed up for real.

It had been cold for weeks, but cold didn’t mean snow. Not until today.

The kind of snow that didn’t fall gently like in Christmas movies, but came down thick and fast, sticking to everything the second it touched.

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When we walked into the cafeteria, you could already see it piling up outside the windows.

A couple inches, easy.

Kids kept getting up just to look, pressing their hands against the glass like they’d never seen weather before.

Mariah was practically vibrating in her seat.

“Oh my God,” she said, staring outside. “It’s actually sticking.”

Jessa smiled softly beside her, but I could tell she was quieter today. Not upset. Just… thoughtful.

Her hair was tucked into her scarf, cheeks pink from the cold walk in.

I liked seeing her like this.

Comfortable.

Here.

With us.

Jackson dropped into the seat across from me, shaking melted snow out of his hair like a dog.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered.

Mariah’s eyes lit up. “You look like a golden retriever.”

Jackson glared. “I look like the quarterback of Ridgeville freezing to death.”

“Same thing,” Mariah said sweetly.

I snorted into my drink.

Shane leaned forward, elbow on the table. “Coach is gonna make us practice in this anyway.’

Jackson shook his head. “No chance. I heard they might dismiss early.”

That got everyone’s attention.

“What?” I asked.

Jackson nodded toward the windows. “The roads are already getting bad. My mom texted me–she said the district might call it.”

Chris perked up like someone had just announced free food. “Early dismissal?”

Mariah blinked. “That means…”

“No football practice,” Shane finished, sounding like he didn’t know whether to celebrate or mourn.

Chris leaned back dramatically. “God has answered my prayers.”

Jackson scoffed. “You don’t pray.”

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“I do now,” Chris said immediately. “Snow days are sacred.”

Jessa laughed quietly, and it hit me again how much I liked hearing it. Like her laughter was becoming more frequent, less guarded.

I reached under the table and squeezed her hand.

She looked at me, surprised for half a second, then her fingers curled around mine.

Simple.

Natural.

Like it was always supposed to be that way.

The cafeteria buzzed louder than usual, everyone restless.

Snow days did that.

It was like the whole school could feel freedom hovering just outside the windows.

Kids were already talking about sledding. About hot chocolate. About how maybe finals would get pushed back.

Some idiot at the next table started chanting “Snow day! Snow day!” like we were in elementary school.

Mariah rolled her eyes. “We are seventeen.”

Chris shrugged. “Snow does something to people. Makes them feral.”

Jackson smirked. “You were feral before the snow.”

Chris pointed at him. “And you’re a king now, Your Majesty. Don’t act superior.”

Jackson’s face tightened instantly.

“Oh my God,” Shane said, grinning. “He hates it.”

Mariah’s lips twitched like she was trying not to laugh.

Chris leaned forward, wicked. “How’s it feel being Homecoming King, Lombardi?”

Jackson groaned. “Stop.”

“No, seriously,” Shane added. “Do you have to wear the crown everywhere? Does it come with a cape?”

“It comes with girls you don’t want touching you,” Mariah muttered under her breath.

Jackson’s eyes flicked to her, something soft and private there for half a second.

Then he cleared his throat. “It was one night. It’s over.”

Chris smirked. “Kings don’t get ‘over it.‘ Kings rule.”

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Mariah snorted. “He ruled for about twelve minutes before he looked like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin.”

Jessa giggled.

Jackson shot her a look. “Don’t encourage her.”

I leaned back, watching them, and it struck me how different everything felt compared to a couple months ago.

Not perfect.

But… better.

Daniel was gone.

The constant tension was gone.

It wasn’t all eyes and cruelty and waiting for the next hit.

It was this.

Teasing. Snow. Lunch. Jessa’s hand in mine.

I didn’t want to take it for granted.

My phone buzzed with a weather alert.

WINTER STORM WARNING.

Chris saw it and immediately slammed his hands on the table.

“It’s happening!”

Jackson rolled his eyes. “Relax.”

“No, you don’t understand,” Chris said. “This is my Super Bowl.”

Shane chuckled. “Coach is gonna be pissed.”

Jackson nodded. “Coach is always pissed.”

Mariah tilted her head. “Does Coach even experience joy?”

“Only when someone gets tackled correctly,” I said.

That made Jessa laugh again, and my chest warmed.

I glanced down at her.

“You okay?” I asked quietly, just for her.

She blinked. “Yeah. Why?”

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I shrugged. “Just checking.”

Her mouth softened. “I’m good.”

Then, after a pause, she added quietly, “I like days like this.”

“What, snow days?“.

“No,” she said, voice smaller. “Days where it feels… normal.”

That hit me harder than it should’ve.

Because I knew what she meant.

Normal wasn’t something she’d gotten much of.

Normal meant peace.

Normal meant laughter without fear.

I squeezed her hand again.

“Yeah,” I murmured. “Me too.”