Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 293

Chapter 293

Jessa

The gym looked different

It always did for games loud, packed, overwhelming but this was different in a quieter way. The bleachers were filled, but people weren’t yelling. There was no band blasting music, no chaos, no pressure to win something

Just rows of chairs lined up on the floor.

Just families

Just… endings.

I stood near the side with the rest of the seniors, the fabric of my gown brushing against my legs every time I shifted. The cap felt weird on my head, like it didn’t quite belong there yet.

Or maybe I didn’t.

“This is it,” Mariah whispered beside me.

I glanced at her.

She looked… good. Confident, Like she belonged here.

Then again–Mariah always looked like she belonged.

“Don’t say it like that,” I muttered.

“Like what?”

“Like we’re about to walk into the unknown and never recover.”

She smirked.

“Dramatic.”

“You started it.”

“Yeah, but I do it better.”

I huffed a small laugh, but it didn’t settle the way I expected it to.

Because this was it.

No more “next year.”

No more “we’ll figure it out later.”

Later was here.

“Jess.”

I turned at the sound of my name.

Jackson.

He looked… calm.

Which was weird.

Because usually before anything big, he was either hyped or pretending he didn’t care.

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Now?

He just looked steady.

“You ready?” he asked.

I shrugged slightly.

“Define ready.”

He smirked.

“Fair.”

For a second, neither of us said anything.

Then he reached over and adjusted my cap slightly.

“It was crooked,” he said.

“It probably still is.”

“Yeah, but now it’s less crooked.”

“Good to know.”

He stepped back, looking at me for a second longer than usual.

And I knew what that was.

Not worry.

Not concern.

Just… taking it in.

“Mom’s here,” he said.

That made something in my chest tighten.

“She got off work?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded.

“Of course she did.”

Because she wouldn’t miss this.

Not this.

“Hey,” he added, a little quieter.

I looked at him.

“You did good.”

The words were simple.

But they hit harder than anything else.

I swallowed.

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“So did you.”

He nodded once.

Then-

“Don’t trip when you walk.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Shut up.”

He grinned.

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“There she is.”

Mariah leaned in from the other side.

“If either of you trips, I will never let you live it down.”

“Not helping,” I muttered.

“Just being honest.”

We were called to line up.

And suddenly, everything felt real in a way it hadn’t a second ago.

Caps.

Gowns.

Names printed in a program.

This wasn’t something we were waiting for anymore.

It was happening.

Now.

The line started moving.

Slow.

Measured.

Like the moment wanted to stretch itself out.

I could hear the murmur of the crowd, the shuffle of shoes against the floor, the soft voice of someone speaking into the microphone ahead.

My heart started pounding.

Not in a panic way.

Just… loud.

Present.

“This is so weird,” I whispered.

Mariah nudged me.

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“You’re gonna say that again?”

“Yes.”

“Consistency is key.”

I smiled faintly.

Then the doors opened.

And we walked in.

The gym felt bigger like this.

Or maybe it was just that I was seeing it differently.

The crowd stood, clapping.

Not screaming.

Not judging.

Just… clapping.

For us.

For once.

I scanned the bleachers without meaning to.

And I saw her.

My mom.

Front row.

Standing.

Clapping like this was the most important moment in the world.

Like I was the most important thing in the world.

My chest tightened.

God.

How many times had she missed things because she was working?

How many times had I told myself it didn’t matter?

And now-

She was here.

For this.

And that meant everything.

I spotted Noah a second later.

A few rows back.

Standing next to his parents.

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And when his eyes found mine-

Everything else faded.

Just for a second.

The noise.

The people.

The moment.

It all narrowed down to that one look.

And the way his expression softened.

Like he was proud.

Like he always had been.

I looked away before I got too emotional.

Because yeah-

Crying during graduation?

Not happening.

We were directed to our seats, rows of chairs stretching across the floor.

I sat, smoothing my gown nervously.

“Breathe,” Mariah whispered.

“I am breathing.”

“You’re barely blinking.”

“I blink.”

“Not enough.”

I rolled my eyes, but I took a breath anyway.

In.

Out.

This is fine.

This is normal.

This is happening.

Speeches started.

The principal.

Some student speaker.

Words about the future.

About opportunity.

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About how this was just the beginning.

And maybe a few months ago, I would’ve tuned it all out.

Because it would’ve felt fake.

Too big.

Too far away.

But now?

Now it didn’t.

Now it felt… possible.

Like maybe life wasn’t just what happened inside these walls.

Maybe it was bigger than that.

Then-

They started calling names.

My stomach flipped.

One by one.

People stood.

Walked.

hands.

ned to their seats.

felt endless.

and too fast at the same time.

“Don’t fall,” Mariah whispered again.

“I hate you.”

“Love you too.”

More names.

Closer.

Closer.

“Jackson Lombardi.”

I turned instinctively.

He stood, straightening slightly before walking forward.

Confident.

Lil

had been.

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Ted this fire…

There was something else there

Not just confidence.

Something earned.

Something real

The crowd cheered louder for him.

Of course they did.

Quarterback

Everyone knew him.

Everyone always had

But this time, when he shook hands and took his diploma —

I didn’t think about that.

I just thought-

That’s my brother.

And I was proud.

back, sitting down, catching my eye briefly,

ext.

heart kicked up again.

d then-

“Jessa Lombardi,”

For a second, I didn’t move.

Like my brain needed a second to catch up.

That’s me.

That’s my name.

Mariah squeezed my hand quickly,

“Go.”

I stood.

And the world went quiet.

Not actually quiet,

But in my head?

Yeah

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Chapter 293

It was.

I walked forward, each step feeling heavier and lighter at the same time.

And for a split second-

I thought about everything.

The whispers.

The rumors.

The way people used to look at me.

The things they said.

The girl I used to be.

The one who thought this place defined her.

And then—

I stepped up.

Shook the principal’s hand.

Took the diploma.

And turned.

The applause hit me then.

Not louder than anyone else’s.

Not bigger.

Just…