Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 80

The final bell might as well have been a starting gun. Everyone bolted for the exits like they were racing for freedom, voices echoing off the metal lockers and sneakers squeaking against the linoleum.

Normally, I’d be part of the rush too – keeping my head down, clutching my books like a shield, pretending not to care that no one ever waited for me. But today I just stood there, staring at my locker like it might open itself.

I was exhausted.

Not the kind of tired that a nap could fix. The kind that settled deep in your bones – the kind that came from trying to act like everything was fine when your entire world had been quietly rearranged.

I could feel eyes on me, whispers slipping through the hallway in that way they always seemed to when my name got tangled up in something that wasn’t supposed to involve me. It had been that way since Friday night. Since the game. Since Noah Carter kissed me and everything went straight to hell.

I was still half–shoving books into my bag when Mariah appeared, all bright energy and zero patience.

“Okay,” she said, leaning her shoulder against the locker next to mine, arms crossed, a perfect eyebrow raised. “What’s going on? You literally look like someone peed in your Cheerios today.”

I blinked at her, caught off guard by the phrasing. “That’s…. disgusting.”

“Exactly. So start talking, because your face says ‘disaster‘ and your silence says ‘possible emotional implosion.*

A tired laugh escaped me, despite myself. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, but I’m also right.”

I sighed, closing my locker door with a soft clang. “I’m just… tired, Mariah. That’s all.”

Mariah tilted her head, giving me that look – the one that said she wasn’t buying a single word. “Uh–huh. And I’m the queen of England. Try again.”

We started walking toward the side doors, weaving through the crowd spilling into the parking lot. The air outside was crisp, the kind of late–October chill that hinted at fall without fully letting go of summer yet. The sky was streaked with gold, and for a second, I wished I could just freeze the moment – no pressure, no gossip, no Noah Carter.

Mariah unlocked her car with a beep, tossing her bag into the back seat. “You’ve been weird all day,” she said, turning to face me. “Even for you. Spill it.”

I hesitated, clutching the strap of my backpack. “It’s… complicated.”

She rolled her eyes. “Everything’s complicated with you lately. I’m starting to think you moonlight as a soap opera character. [ust tell me what happened.”

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Chapter SO

I let out a long breath. “Noah came by last night.”

That got her attention immediately. “He what?”

“Showed up at my house. Said he wanted to talk.”

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Mariah’s jaw dropped. “Talk? As in ‘hey, sorry I completely humiliated you in front of the entire school and broke your trust in one spectacular explosion of idiocy‘ talk?”

“Something like that.” I stared down at the pavement. “He said he didn’t mean for it to happen the way it did. That he’s dealing with his own stutt. That he wanted to apologize.”

Mariah crossed her arms. “And you believed him?”

“I… don’t know.”

That was the truth. I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

–

Part of me wanted to slam the door on him forever. The other part – the stupid, hopeful part — kept replaying the way his voice had cracked when he said he was sorry. The way he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. The way it hadn’t felt like an act.

Mariah blew out a low whistle. “Well, that explains the face. You’re in emotional limbo. Welcome to the club.”

“Ha. Very funny.”

She leaned against the car, studying me like she was reading a very complicated math problem. “So what did you say?”

“That I didn’t know if I could believe him,” I admitted. “And then he left. That’s it.”

Mariah nodded slowly, her lips twisting. “Okay. Honest question – how do you feel about him? And don’t give me that ‘I don’t know‘ nonsense, because I’ve seen you look at him. I’ve seen the way your whole face lights up when he’s near. You like him.”

I stared at her, searching for a denial that wouldn’t sound like a lie. “Maybe I did. Maybe I still do. But that’s the problem, isn’t it?”

“Because he’s Noah Carter.”

“Because he’s Noah Carter,” I echoed. “Because he’s Jackson’s best friend. Because everyone in this stupid town expects him to be perfect. And because every time I let myself think someone might actually see me, it turns out they were just… passing time.”

Mariah’s expression softened. “Hey. You don’t know that’s true.”

“Don’t I?” I said quietly. “Look at how it all played out. The second Daniel opened his mouth, everything I thought was real blew up. You think I imagined that?”

18:34 Mon, Oct 13

“Ugh. Fine. Be responsible. I’ll just go drown my concern for you in whipped cream.” She opened the driver’s door, then glanced back at me. “Hey, Jess?”

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