Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 238

Chapter 238

Noah

The locker room smelled like sweat, detergent, and that sharp rubbery scent of cleats that never really went away no matter how many times the equipment guys tried.

It was loud, like always.

Helmets clanged into lockers. Someone was arguing about music. Someone else was laughing too hard at something that wasn’t even funny.

Normal.

Except lately, normal felt… temporary.

I sat on the bench, tugging my practice socks on, staring down at the Ridgeville logo stitched into the fabric like it was something I needed to memorize.

Only a few more games.

That was it.

High school football was almost over.

The thought hit me out of nowhere, heavy and strange.

I looked up at Jackson across from me. He was taping his wrist with the kind of focus he always had before practice, jaw set, shoulders squared like he was already stepping onto the field.

“Only a few games left,” I said.

Jackson’s hands paused.

Then he nodded once, slow.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “It’s weird to think about.”

I leaned back against the locker, exhaling.

“This time next year…” I started.

Jackson glanced up. “We’ll hopefully be playing in college.”

“Hopefully,” I echoed.

That word carried everything.

Hope.

Pressure.

Recruiters.

Scholarships.

The thin line between Friday night lights and real life.

Jackson’s mouth twitched like he didn’t love saying it out loud.

“I don’t know what I’m gonna do when it’s done,” he admitted quietly. “Like… this has been my whole life since I was eight.”

I nodded. “Same.”

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Football wasn’t just a sport here.

It was a future.

It was the reason our bodies hurt and our schedules were insane and Coach screamed like he was auditioning for the military.

It was the reason we mattered in this town.

And that was a messed up thing to realize.

Jackson tore the tape with his teeth. “At least we’ll still have it. Just… bigger.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Bigger stadiums. Bigger pressure. Bigger chance to screw up.”

Jackson smirked. “That’s your optimism talking”

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”

For a second, it almost felt normal again.

Just two guys getting ready for practice.

Just football.

Then the locker room door slammed open.

Coach Daniels stepped inside.

The room didn’t go silent instantly, but it shifted. Like a storm cloud rolling in

Coach’s face was tight, eyes sharp.

“Lombardi,”

Jackson froze.

Coach didn’t yell it. Didn’t bark.

That was worse.

Jackson straightened. “Yeah?”

Coach jerked his head toward the hallway.

“My office. Now.”

A beat of stunned silence.

Jackson blinked like maybe he’d misheard.

“What now?” he muttered under his breath, mostly to himself, but he stood anyway.

He shot me a look as he passed.

The look said: Do you have any idea what this is about?

I didn’t.

He headed out, shoulders tense.

The door shut behind them.

The locker room exhaled all at once, like everyone had been holding their breath.

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“What the hell was that?” Chris muttered.

“Probably about his ego,” Shane joked weakly.

Nobody laughed.

I kept staring at the door.

My stomach was doing something unpleasant.

Coach didn’t call Jackson out like that unless it mattered.

Shane slid onto the bench beside me, lowering his voice.

“I think Coach saw the I**** *m post.”

I turned sharply. “What?”

Shane’s eyes flicked around like he didn’t want anyone else hearing.

“That Ridgeville Gossip thing. The one about Jackson and Mariah.”

My jaw tightened.

Of course.

That stupid morphed photo.

That fake caption.

That garbage rumor.

I scoffed. “So what? Coach is gonna suspend him because of a fake post?”

Shane didn’t answer right away.

His face was too serious.

“Noah,” he said slowly, “that kind of thing can hurt him.”

I frowned. “Hurt him how?”

Shane leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

“Scholarships.”

The word landed like a punch.

I blinked. “What?”

Shane nodded grimly. “Think about it. Recruiters don’t want drama.”

My throat went dry.

“That’s not drama,” I snapped. “That’s a lie.”

Shane lifted his hands. “I know it is. But do you really think some college coach scrolling through social media is gonna stop and fact–check Ridgeville High rumors?”

I stared at him.

My brain wasn’t catching up.

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“That’s insane,” I said.

Shane’s voice dropped even lower.

“Yeah, but it’s real. Universities invest in players. Time, money, resources. Why would they want someone with… baggage?”

I sat up straighter.

“Baggage?” I repeated, disbelief sharp.

Shane shrugged like he hated saying it but couldn’t stop.

“If they think he got a kid? If they think he’s tied down? If they think he’s irresponsible-”

“No,” I cut in. “No way.”

Shane’s expression didn’t change.

“I’m serious.”

My pulse started hammering.

Jackson had worked his whole life for this.

Every early morning workout.

Every busted lip.

Every game where he carried the whole town on his back.

And some stupid I**: ***m account could ruin it?

My mind flashed to Mariah’s face when she walked back into the cafeteria.

The way she held herself together.

The way Jackson looked like he wanted to burn the school down.

This wasn’t just gossip.

This was a weapon.

I swallowed hard.

“You really think it could… ruin his future?”

Shane hesitated.

Then nodded once.

“I think it could make things harder. At least. Recruiters don’t want distractions.”

My hands curled into fists.

God.

I hated this place.

I hated how fast people could take something good and twist it.

First Jessa.

Now Mariah.

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Now Jackson.

It was like Ridgeville couldn’t stand happiness unless it came packaged in the exact right shape.

And if it didn’t?

They tore it apart.

The office door opened across the room.

Coach stepped out first.

Jackson followed.

I couldn’t read his face.

That scared me more than anything.

Coach barked, “Practice starts in five. Move.”

The team scrambled, grabbing helmets, shoving gear on.

Jackson didn’t come back to the bench right away.

He stood there for a second, shoulders rigid.

Then he walked toward his locker like he was carrying something heavy inside his chest.

I stood up, heart pounding.

“Jackson,” I called quietly.

He glanced at me.

His eyes were dark.

Tired.

Angry.

But controlled.

“What?” he muttered.

I wanted to ask.

I wanted to demand.

But Shane’s words echoed in my skull.

Scholarships.

Baggage.

Ruined future.

All because of a lie.

I swallowed.

Jackson’s jaw clenched.

“It’s fine,” he said, too quickly.

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Chapter 238

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That was how I knew it wasn’t.

He shoved his helmet on like armor.

And as we filed out toward the field, the cold air biting at our skin, I couldn’t shake the sick realization curling in my gut.

This wasn’t just about who people dated.

This wasn’t just about whispers.

This wasn’t even about high school.

This was about how fragile everything was.

How one stupid rumor could reach farther than it ever should.

And for the first time since all of this started…

I wondered if Shane was right.

If the world really was that shallow.

And if liking someone–loving someone–could actually cost you everything.

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