Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 222

Jessa

Snow days weren’t supposed to feel like this.

They were supposed to feel like cartoons and pajamas and Mom yelling about chores because “being home doesn’t mean being lazy.”

Not… whatever this was.

Not me walking out of Ridgeville High with Noah Carter beside me, his hand warm around mine, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Like I belonged there.

Like I belonged with him.

The parking lot was chaos–kids cheering, teachers trying to herd everyone like we were feral animals, snow swirling down in thick, steady flakes.

Mariah was bouncing on her toes.

“This is the best day of my life,” she announced dramatically.

Jackson snorted. “You need higher standards.”

Mariah pointed at him. “Says the Homecoming King who probably has a crown–shaped dent in his ego.”

Jackson rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

Noah squeezed my hand gently, leaning closer.

“You good?” he asked.

I nodded, even though my heart was doing something ridiculous.

“I’m good.”

And I was.

That was the weirdest part.

I was actually… good.

Noah’s truck was parked near the back of the lot, already dusted with snow. He opened the passenger door for me like we were in some old movie, and I hesitated for half a second.

This felt… intimate.

Not in a scandalous way.

In a real way.

1/7

Chapter 222

Like choosing to be with him outside of school meant something different.

Mariah caught my pause and leaned in with a grin.

“Go,” she whispered. “Be stolen.”

I shot her a look. “Stop.”

She just winked.

Jackson muttered, “Jesus.”

Noah chuckled under his breath and guided me into the seat.

The door shut, muffling the noise of the school.

And suddenly it was just… quiet.

Just us.

+25 Bonus

The drive to Noah’s house wasn’t long, but it felt strange being out in the middle of the day like this, the world slowed down by weather.

Snow blurred the edges of everything.

Houses looked softer. Trees looked like they’d been dusted in powdered sugar.

Noah drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually near the gearshift, like he wasn’t aware I was sitting beside him trying not to overthink every breath I took.

“So,” I said finally, because silence made my brain spiral.

“So,” he echoed, glancing at me.

I huffed out a laugh. “We’re really good at conversation.”

His grin flashed. “Only when it matters.”

My cheeks warmed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means…” he hesitated, then his voice went quieter. “I like having you with me. Even when we’re not talking.”

That made my chest ache in a way that wasn’t painful.

Just… full.

“Oh,” I whispered.

Noah glanced at me again, softer this time.

“Yeah. Oh.”

1

2/7

Chapter 222

+25 Bonus

His house was warm when we stepped inside, the smell of something comforting–coffee, maybe, or laundry detergent, or just home.

It didn’t feel like a teenage boy’s house.

It felt lived–in.

Safe.

Noah kicked off his shoes and shrugged out of his jacket.

“My parents are out running errands before the roads get too bad,” he said. “So it’s just us for a bit.”

Just us.

My stomach flipped.

I tried to act normal. “Okay.”

He watched me for a second, like he could tell I was nervous.

“Hey,” he said gently. “You don’t have to be nervous.”

“I’m not,” I lied immediately.

Noah’s smile turned amused.

“Jess.”

I groaned. “Fine. I’m a little nervous.”

He stepped closer, slow, like he didn’t want to spook me.

“Why?”

Because this feels too good.

Because I don’t know how to trust good things.

Because I’m still waiting for the moment I wake up.

But I’dn’t say all that.

So I said the simplest truth.

“I’ve never done this before.”

Noah blinked. “Done what?”

“This,” I gestured vaguely. “Snow day. Going to a guy’s house. Being… someone’s girlfriend.”

The word still felt unreal in my mouth.

3/7

Chapter 222

Girlfriend.

Noah’s expression softened so much it almost undid me.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “Then we’ll do it slow. Whatever you need.”

My throat tightened.

“You’re not… disappointed?”

He looked almost offended.

“Jess, I’m not disappointed in you. Ever.”

I swallowed hard.

God.

How did he say things like that so easily?

+25 Bonus

We ended up in the living room, the couch big enough for two people but somehow still making me feel hyper- aware of how close he was.

Noah grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and tossed it over us like it was automatic.

“Movie?” he offered.

I nodded quickly. “Movie.”

He scrolled through options, but I wasn’t really watching the screen.

I was watching him.

The way his brow furrowed when he couldn’t decide.

The way his fingers tapped absently against his knee.

The way he looked so… normal.

Not the intimidating football guy everyone whispered about.

Just Noah.

He finally clicked something random, some action movie neither of us cared about.

Then he leaned back.

And without thinking too hard, I shifted closer.

My head found his shoulder.

The moment I did it, I froze.

4/7

Chapter 222

Too much?

Noah didn’t move away.

Instead, he exhaled softly, like he liked it.

His arm slid around me, careful and warm.

And I felt myself relax into him in a way I didn’t know I could.

“This okay?” he murmured.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “It’s… really okay.”

+25 Bonus

The movie played in the background, explosions and dramatic music, but it was just noise.