Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 15

Jessa

The second the laughter erupted, I felt it.

Like every giggle, every jeer, every whispered comment was a knife slicing through me.

“Guess you have to kiss the big girl!”

The words echoed in my head, so loud I couldn’t hear the music anymore. My chest felt tight, my throat closing up as heat rushed to my face.

I couldn’t sit there. I wouldn’t sit there.

Before Noah could even move, before Jackson could reach for me again, I was on my feet, stumbling backward. My voice cracked as I forced the words out.

“I’m done!”

I didn’t wait for anyone to respond. Didn’t look back. I just ran—through the crowd, past the curious stares and poorly concealed smirks, and out the front door into the cool night air.

The sharp bite of the autumn wind hit my skin like a slap, and only then did I realize I was shaking. My breaths came in shallow gasps, my vision blurred with tears.

I hated them.

I hated all of them.

But mostly, I hated myself.

I didn’t stop until I reached the end of the driveway, where the yard sloped down toward the street. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the damp grass, wrapping my arms around myself as sobs wracked my body.

This night had been a mistake.

I should’ve stayed home, like I always did. I should’ve worn my baggy hoodie and loose jeans, the clothes that made me feel invisible—safe.

Instead, I’d let Mariah talk me into trying.

Into hoping.

I thought maybe, just maybe, I could show up tonight and not be the butt of the joke.

But of course, I’d been wrong.

“Jessa!” Mariah’s voice cut through my sobs. A moment later, she came running down the driveway, her heels clicking on the pavement. She dropped to her knees beside me, breathless.

“Jess, oh my god, are you okay?”

I laughed bitterly, swiping at my wet cheeks. “Do I look okay?”

Mariah flinched but didn’t back away. She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug. I sank into her warmth, clutching her like a lifeline.

“I knew I shouldn’t have made you play,” she whispered fiercely. “I’m so sorry. That was so messed up.”

“It’s not your fault.” My voice was hoarse, barely audible.

“Yes, it is. I pushed you into it. I told you it would be fun.” She shook her head, furious with herself. “God, they’re such jerks. Jackson, Noah… all of them.”

At the mention of Noah’s name, my stomach twisted.

Noah.

I hated him more than anyone else right now.

But beneath the anger was something even worse: the part of me that wanted his attention.

And that was humiliating.

“I should’ve known better,” I whispered. “I mean, who was I kidding? Look at me.”

Mariah pulled back, gripping my shoulders. “Jessa, don’t you dare.”

I blinked at her, startled. “Intimidated? By me?”

“Hell yes.” She gave a small, incredulous laugh. “You think Noah Carter makes fun of you because he actually thinks you’re worthless? Please. He teases you because he doesn’t know what to do with the fact that he notices you. Trust me, guys like that don’t waste their time on people they don’t care about.”

My heart stuttered, traitorous and stupid. “Mariah…”

“No.” She held up a hand. “Don’t read into it. I’m not saying he’s good for you. I’m saying he’s the problem, not you. All of them are.”

I swallowed hard, her words sinking into me like a lifeline.

But no matter how much I wanted to believe her, a small, ugly voice whispered in the back of my mind: He didn’t defend you either.

Because Noah hadn’t.

He’d just sat there.

“Jess.” Mariah’s tone was gentle now. “You can’t let them control you like this. Don’t give them that power.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” I whispered.

“By walking back in there with your head held high,” she said firmly. “Or, if you’re not ready for that, then by knowing deep down that their opinions don’t define you. You get to define yourself.”

I looked back at the house, its windows glowing with light. Laughter drifted out into the night, cruel and sharp.

“I don’t want to go back in,” I admitted. “Not tonight.”

“That’s okay,” Mariah said, rubbing my back. “We’ll leave. But one day, Jess…” She paused, her eyes fierce and determined. “One day, you’re going to walk into a room, and they’re going to realize just how wrong they were about you.”

I wanted to believe her. God, I needed to believe her.

But as I sat there under the dark sky, all I felt was the hollow ache of knowing that tonight, I’d been reminded of exactly where I stood.

And how far I had to go to ever be seen.