Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 261

pter 261

Jessa

Benny’s always smelled like fries and melted cheese and victory.

The neon beer signs glowed against the windows, fogged up from too many people crowding in at once. Half the football team was already there when Mariah and I walked in, snow still melting off our boots, the place buzzing with post–game adrenaline.

It felt different tonight, though.

Not just because they won.

Because it was the last one.

Ever.

Shane was halfway standing on a booth yelling about his interception like it needed its own press conference. Someone had dragged two tables together. Parents were in one corner pretending not to eavesdrop. A few underclassmen hovered like they

were watching seniors step into some mythical ending.

Mariah slid into the booth across from me and stole one of my fries without asking.

“You look like you’re thinking too hard,” she said.

“I am,” I admitted.

“About?”

I hesitated.

“Christmas.”

Mariah blinked. “You just watched your boyfriend win his last high school game and your brain is on Santa?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s like three weeks away.”

“And?”

“And I need to get Noah something.”

Mariah leaned back, amused. “You’re stressed about a gift.”

“Yes.”

She studied me like this was entertaining.

“Okay. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t know what to get him ”

Mariah smirked. “You could get him a framed photo of Tori mid attack”

I shot her a look.

“Not helping.”

Her expression softened slightly. “You’re still thinking about that.”

I didn’t answer right away.

Because yeah.

Chapter 261

+30 Bonus

I was.

Not in a dramatic way.

Not in a spiraling way.

Just… unsettled.

The way Tori had looked at me.

Like I was a technicality.

Like she didn’t actually register me as real.

“She sits with us at lunch,” I said quietly. “She knows we’re together.”

Mariah’s jaw tightened. “She absolutely knows.”

“So for her to act like that…”

Mariah’s eyes sharpened. “She was testing.”

“Testing what?”

“How far she could push before someone pushed back.”

I let that sit

Benny’s door opened again, cold air sweeping in. A couple more teammates walked through, loud and flushed from the cold.

Then I saw her.

Tori.

She walked in like she hadn’t launched herself at someone else’s boyfriend an hour ago.

Like she hadn’t made eye contact with me while doing it.

Her hair was still perfect somehow. She laughed at something one of the cheerleaders said and slid into a table two rows over.

And she glanced at us.

Not obvious.

Just enough

That same flicker.

Dismissive

My stomach tightened not in insecurity.

In irritation.

Marial followed my gaze

“Oh no,” she muttered under her breath

“What.”

“You have that look.”

“What look?”

100

Chapter 281

“The calm before violence look.”

“I’m not going to cause a scene,” I said.

“Good,” she said quickly. “Because I don’t feel like bailing you out tonight.”

I didn’t laugh.

I watched Tori say something to the girl next to her and toss her hair like she was in a commercial.

She knew.

She absolutely knew what she did.

And she knew I saw it.

And she was acting like I didn’t exist.

That bothered me more than the kiss.

The dismissal.

Like I was background.

Noah and Jackson weren’t there yet–they’d stayed behind longer with Coach. The team was trickling in slowly.

Which meant if something was going to happen…

It was on me.

Mariah leaned forward. “What are you thinking.“”

I exhaled once.

“I’m not letting her think I’m afraid of her.”

Mariah’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh.”

I slid out of the booth.

“Jess.”

“I’m not yelling ”

“Jess.”

“I’m not throwing anything ”

Mariah narrowed her eyes. “Promise.”

“I promise.”

I walked.

Not fast.

Not storming.

Just steady.

Tori noticed me halfway there.

Her smile shifted slightly, like she was curious what version of me she was about to get

+30 Bonus

Chapter 201

I stopped beside her table.

“Hey,” I said.

Her brows lifted in fake sweetness. “Hey.”

The girls at her table went quiet instantly.

“I need a word,” I said evenly.

Tori blinked. “About?”

“In private.”

Her smile sharpened. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to make a scene.”

That got a reaction.

A small flicker.

She stood slowly, brushing imaginary lint off her sleeve.

“Okay,” she said lightly. “Sure.”

We walked toward the back hallway where the restrooms were.

The noise from the dining room dulled once we turned the corner. The fluorescent lighting back here was harsher. Less

flattering.

She crossed her arms loosely.

“So,” she said. “What’s up.”

I studied her for a second.

Not looking for intimidation.

Looking for intention.

“You know Noah and I are together,” I said calmly.

She tilted her head “Yeah?”

“And you still kissed him.”

She let out a small laugh. “Oh my God. We’re still on that?”

“It happened less than an hour ago.”

“It was excitement,” she said “We won ”

“You ran past Jackson,” I pointed out

Her eyes flickered.

“I hugged him too.”

“You kissed Noah.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re acting like I tried to steal him.”

u’re acting

+30 Bonus

Chapter 21

+30 Bonus

“I’m acting like you crossed a line.”

Her posture shifted slightly.

Defensive.

“Wow,” she said. “You really think you own him?”

There it was.

The attempt to twist it.

“I don’t own him,” I said evenly. “But I’m his girlfriend.”

She smirked faintly. “Yeah. He said that. Real dramatic.”

“You heard it?”

“Oh, please,” she said. “The whole field heard it.”

“Good.”

Her smirk faltered just slightly.

I stepped a fraction closer–not aggressive, just firm.

“You don’t get to act like I don’t exist,” I said quietly.

Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t.”

“You did.”

She opened her mouth to argue.