Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 231

Chapter 231

Mariah

By third period, I knew.

Not because someone said it to my face.

Not because I overheard the whole story.

But because Ridgeville has a very specific kind of silence.

The kind where people stop talking the second you walk by.

The kind where girls smile too sweetly.

The kind where boys suddenly find the ceiling fascinating.

That kind of silence?

Means you’re the topic.

I slammed my locker shut harder than necessary.

Jessa flinched beside me.

“What?” she asked.

I forced a grin.

“Nothing.”

That was a lie.

Everything was something.

Because apparently, one stupid joke from Noah Carter had turned into Ridgeville’s newest entertainment: Mariah Morales, couch siren.

I could practically hear the headline in Bethany Jones‘ group chat.

HOMEcoming King Hooks Up During SNOWSTORM???

And of course-

Of course-

Jackson would be fine.

Noah would be fine.

The guys would get fist bumps and jokes.

And I’d get labeled.

Because that’s how it works.

Girls don’t get rumors.

Girls get reputations.

Jessa’s voice was cautious. “Mariah…”

Chapter 231

I exhaled slowly through my nose.

“It’s fine.”

She didn’t believe me.

Honestly?

Neither did I.

Lunch was worse.

The cafeteria was loud, chaotic, normal.

Except it wasn’t.

Because the second I walked in, I felt it.

Eyes.

Not everyone.

Not even most.

But enough.

I spotted a table of sophomore girls near the windows–cheer squad wannabes with lip gloss and too much confidence.

One of them leaned toward another.

Whispered.

They giggled.

Then one of them glanced directly at me.

I smiled.

She looked away fast.

Coward.

Jessa murmured, “Ignore them.”

“Oh, I’m ignoring,” I said brightly. “I’m ignoring so hard I deserve an award.”

She gave me a look.

I softened, just a little.

“It’s fine,” I repeated.

But the truth was…

It wasn’t.

Not really.

Because I wasn’t stupid.

I knew what they were saying.

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Chapter 231

Not did Mariah sleep with Jackson?

More like-

Mariah would sleep with Jackson.

Mariah probably sleeps with everyone.

Mariah’s that kind of girl.

And the worst part?

I hadn’t even done anything.

I had kissed my boyfriend.

In public.

Twice.

And somehow that was enough for people to sharpen their knives.

Jackson slid onto the bench beside Noah, his tray thudding down like it had personally offended him.

Noah looked up. “You good?”

Jackson’s jaw ticked.

“No.”

That was all he said.

But I knew that tone.

He’d heard it too.

Noah’s gaze flicked to me, quick and assessing.

His expression tightened.

“People talking?”

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

“No, Noah, Ridgeville suddenly became emotionally mature overnight.”

Jessa snorted.

Noah’s mouth twitched.

Jackson didn’t laugh.

His hands clenched around his fork.

That made my chest tighten.

Because Jackson didn’t know how to be calm about anything.

He only knew how to explode.

And I really, really didn’t need him punching a sophomore today.

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Chapter 231

Across the table, Shane leaned in.

“So… just to confirm…”

I glared.

Shane held up both hands immediately.

“Nope. Never mind. Not finishing that sentence.”

Smart.

Chris, however, was not smart.

Chris grinned like a golden retriever with gossip.

“Dude, the way people are acting, you’d think you guys filmed an entire movie on that couch.”

I turned slowly.

“Chris.”

He blinked. “What?”

“If you finish that thought,” I said sweetly, “I will ruin your life.”

Chris swallowed. “Okay.”

Noah coughed into his hand like he was hiding a laugh.

Jackson muttered, “I hate this school.”

“Welcome,” I said. “It’s a dumpster fire with lockers.”

The sophomore girls were still watching.

One of them whispered again.

And I caught it this time.

“She’s so easy.”

My spine went cold.

Easy.

Like I was a thing.

Like I was a convenience.

Like I was disposable.

I stood up so fast my bench screeched.

Jessa’s eyes widened. “Mariah-”

No.

I wasn’t doing this.

Not today.

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Chapter 231

Not ever again.

I grabbed my tray and walked straight toward their table.

The girls froze like deer.

Good.

“Hi,” I said pleasantly.

One of them blinked up at me. “Um…”

I tilted my head.

“I just wanted to clarify something.”

Silence.

My smile sharpened.

“If you’re going to talk about me, at least be creative. Easy is boring. Do better.”

The girl flushed. “We weren’t-”

“Oh,” I cut in, “you were. It’s okay. Own it.”

Her friend muttered, “We just heard-”

“You heard what?” I leaned closer. “That I kissed my boyfriend?”

Their faces went red.

I straightened.

“Let me give you a piece of advice, since you’re clearly new to this.”

My voice stayed calm.

Deadly calm.

“The only people obsessed with someone else’s relationship…”

I let my eyes sweep over them.

…are the ones who don’t have one,”

That hit.

One girl’s mouth opened.

No sound came out.

I nodded.

“Have a great day.”

Then I walked back like my heart wasn’t pounding out of my chest.

Jackson was staring at me when I returned.

Noah looked impressed.

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Chapter 231

Jessa looked like she wanted to hug me and also hide under the table.

Chris whispered, “That was terrifying.”

“Thank you,” I said, sitting down.

Jackson’s voice was low.

“Mariah…”

“What?”

His eyes were intense.

“Don’t do that alone.”

I blinked.

“What?”

His jaw tightened.

“I mean it. Don’t handle it alone.”

“”

The protectiveness in his voice made something twist in my chest.

Not in a bad way.

In a way that felt… dangerous.

Because I liked it.

Too much.

I forced a grin.

“Relax, QB. I’ve survived worse than sophomore girls with lip gloss.”