Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Mariah

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My mouth was still hanging open as I stared at Jessa. She stood there like a statue, her cheeks flushed and her wide eyes shimmering under the bright stadium lights. The crowd was still roaring from the win, but it felt like the whole world had gone quiet around us.

Noah had just kissed her.

Like… really kissed her.

And then Jackson went full–on caveman, practically dragging Noah off her like some jealous protector in a bad teen drama.

“Holy crap,” I muttered under my breath, trying to process the chaos I’d just witnessed.

Jessa’s lips parted like she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. She just stood there, frozen, clutching at the shirt I’d made for her like it was a lifeline. She looked like someone had just dumped a bucket of ice water over her head.

My heart twisted. She was stunned, hurt, embarrassed–all at once,

Meanwhile, Jackson was storming across the field, his broad shoulders tense, practically radiating fury.

“Oh no, no, no,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s not happening.”

I grabbed Jessa’s arm gently, “Stay here, okay? Don’t move. I’ll handle this.”

She nodded numbly, still shell–shocked, and I took off after her idiot brother.

It wasn’t easy catching up to him–he moved like a freight train when he was pissed–but I finally managed to snag his arm near the edge of the parking lot.

“Jackson!” I snapped, yanking on him hard enough to make him spin around. “Would you stop acting like a complete Neanderthal for five freaking seconds?”

His eyes were wild, chest still heaving from either the game or the fight–I couldn’t tell which.

“Mariah, don’t start with me right now. You saw what he was doing!”

“Yes, Jackson, I did see,” I shot back, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I saw Noah kiss Jessa. You know what t didn’t see? Him hurting her. Or disrespecting her. Or any of the garbage you’re acting like just happened!”

Jackson’s jaw clenched. “She’s my sister, Mariah. I’m not just going to stand there and let him-”

“Let him what?” I cut him off, my voice sharp. “Like her? Treat her like she’s actually worth something? God forbid a guy look at Jessa and see her for once!”

“Jessa’s never been enough for herself,” I said, my voice softening but still firm. “She walks through life thinking she’s invisible–or worse, a joke. And that’s partly because of how you’ve let everyone treat her. Including yourself.”

He flinched again, this time like I’d hit him.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down just a little. “You want to protect her? Fine. Then start by letting her live her life. Let her have one freaking moment where she feels like the main character instead of just your sidekick.”

Jackson didn’t respond right away. His jaw worked like he was grinding his teeth, but there was no comeback. No anger left to throw back at me.

Finally, he muttered, “If Noah hurts her, I swear-

“Then you deal with it if it happens,” I interrupted sharply. “But don’t ruin something before it even starts just because you can’t handle the idea of Jessa being happy with someone who isn’t you.”

I stepped back, my heart still racing, and gave him one last glare.

“Now pull yourself together, quarterback. Because the only person you’re hurting right now is your sister,”

Then I turned and headed back toward Jessa, leaving him standing there under the stadium lights, looking like a boy who didn’t know what to do for the first time in his life.