Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Jessa

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By the time I pushed my way back through the crowd and reached the bleachers, my chest felt tight, like I’d been holding my breath for a mile. The roaring cheers of the crowd faded into a dull, hollow buzz in my ears.

Mariah spotted me immediately, her face lighting up–until she got a good look at mine.

“Uh–oh,” she said, leaning forward. “Where’s the nachos, girl? Don’t tell me you ate them all on the way back.”

I tried to laugh, but it came out shaky, more like a gasp. I sank onto the bench beside her, hugging my arms around myself. “I… didn’t get them.”

Mariah’s eyes narrowed. She turned to face me fully, scanning my expression. “Okay, spill it. What happened?”

I stared straight ahead at the field, my throat aching. Out there, Jackson was high–fiving his teammates, and Noah was pacing near the sideline, helmet in hand, intense and focused. They looked like they belonged. Like they were somebody.

And me? I was just the joke in the stands.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, too quickly.

Mariah snorted. “Liar. I know that look, Jessa Lombardi. Somebody said something.” She paused, her tone sharpening. “Who do I need to throat–punch?”

I swallowed hard, blinking fast. I didn’t want to repeat Chelsea’s words out loud, but they kept echoing in my head, taunting me.

“It was Chelsea,” I admitted finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “And her friends. They… they saw my shirt and the paint on my face and…”

Mariah’s hands balled into fists. “And what?”

“They laughed,” I whispered, my cheeks burning. “Chelsea said… she said that Noah would never want someone like me. A… fatty.”

The word cracked in my throat, splintering into a sob I barely managed to choke back.

Mariah went still for a moment, her eyes flashing with anger. Then she leaned in, her voice fierce but steady.

“Okay, listen to me right now.”

I met her gaze reluctantly.

“Yeah, you might not be the stick–thin, size–two fashion model type,” she said bluntly. “But you know what you are? You’ve got curves, Jessa. You’re built like a woman, not a malnourished hanger. People pay money to have what you’ve got.”

18:29 Mon, Oct 13

Chapter 54

Heat rose to my cheeks, but this time it wasn’t shame–it was disbelief. “Mariah-”

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“No. Don’t ‘Mariah‘ me,” she said, cutting me off. “Those girls? They’re part of the itty bitty titty club, okay? Jealous as hell because they wish they had your body. They tear you down because it makes them feel better about themselves.”

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