Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 230

Mariah’s car smelled like peppermint gum and chaos.

Which, honestly, felt normal.

She pulled out of my driveway like she was driving in the Indy 500, one hand on the wheel, the other flipping through the radio stations.

“You know,” she said, “if we die in a fiery crash, I want my legacy to be that I looked hot doing it.

I snorted. “Your legacy will be that you refused to drive under ten miles over the speed limit.”

“That’s called confidence,” she corrected.

“It’s called reckless.”

“It’s called fun.”

I shook my head, smiling despite myself.

>>

Mariah was humming along to some pop song like it was any other Monday morning, like she hadn’t literally been snowed in with my brother two nights ago.

Like I hadn’t been snowed in with Noah.

Like our lives weren’t… weirdly different now.

But she wasn’t acting weird.

So I wasn’t going to either.

“So,” she said casually, glancing at me. “Did Noah survive breakfast with my future in–laws?”

I choked. “Mariah!”

“What?” She grinned. “Rachel Carter is terrifying in the most wholesome way. I bet she offered you pancakes and emotional support.”

“She did,” I admitted.

Mariah sighed dreamily. “God. Imagine having parents that functional.”

I laughed, and for a moment it really did feel normal.

Just two girls driving to school after a snowstorm weekend.

No drama.

No whispers.

Just… Monday.

Until Ridgeville High appeared like a brick prison of hormones and bad decisions.

The hallway was already loud when we walked in.

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Chapter 230

Lockers slamming, freshmen shouting, someone running like they were late for the apocalypse.

And then-

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There they were.

Jackson, Noah, Shane, and Chris hanging near the lockers like football players always did, taking up space like it was their birthright.

Jackson leaned back against his locker, talking with his hands like he was making a point.

Noah’s head lifted the second he saw me.

My stomach flipped.

Still not used to that.

He started walking toward me, and before I could even say hi, his arms slid around my waist from behind.

Warm.

Easy.

Like it was normal.

“Morning,” he murmured near my ear.

I giggled, because apparently my body had decided that was my new personality.

“Good morning.”

He kissed the side of my temple.

Not dramatic.

Just… Noah.

Mariah didn’t even comment.

She just watched like she was silently awarding him points.

Jackson groaned loudly.

“Oh my God. Enough making out with my sister before first period.”

Noah didn’t even blink.

He just smirked.

“Says the guy I literally walked in on with his girlfriend sprawled on top of him on the couch.”

The hallway went dead silent.

Mariah froze.

My eyes widened.

Shane’s head snapped around.

Chris actually sputtered.

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Chapter 230

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“Yo–what?” Chris said, loud enough for three lockers down. “Sprawled out??”

Shane’s eyebrows shot up. “Dude… Jackson?”

Jackson’s face turned the color of a stop sign.

“It is not–no–shut up,” he snapped.

Noah held up his hands innocently, still grinning.

“I’m just saying. The man wants to complain about kissing when his living room looked like a N*****x after- dark special.”

Chris made a strangled noise. “AFTER DARK??”

Jackson lunged forward. “Carter, I swear to God-”

Mariah finally found her voice.

“It was a BLIZZARD,” she hissed. “We fell asleep!”

Shane blinked. “Uh-huh.”

Chris leaned in like this was the best day of his life.

“So you’re telling me… you and Mariah Morales were just… cuddling on the couch?”

Mariah’s eyes flashed.

“Do you want to die today, Chris?”

Chris immediately held up his hands. “Just asking! Just asking!”

Jackson looked like he was about to explode.

“It was not like that,” he said sharply. “We watched a movie. We fell asleep. That’s it.”

Noah tilted his head, fake thoughtful.

“Sure.”

Jackson pointed at him. “Stop saying ‘sure‘ like that.”

Noah shrugged. “I’m not judging.”

“Yes you are.”

“I’m absolutely judging.”

Mariah slapped Noah’s arm. “You are the worst.”

Noah laughed, totally unbothered.

Jackson muttered, “I hate all of you.”

Chris grinned like a gremlin.

“Oh, this is going to travel.”

Mariah’s head whipped toward him.

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Chapter 230

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