Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 28

Jessa

The second Noah said my name, my stomach dropped like a stone.

My first instinct was to run — to grab Mariah’s hand and hide in my room until he left. But my feet wouldn’t move. My whole body was frozen, like part of me needed to hear whatever excuse or insult he was about to throw at me.

Mariah’s eyes narrowed into slits, her arms crossed over her chest like a human shield. “Oh, hell no. Absolutely not. You don’t just show up here after what you did last night.”

But Noah didn’t even glance at her. His stormy blue eyes were locked on me, intense and almost desperate. “Jessa,” he said again, softer this time. “Please. Just… let me talk to you.”

His voice was low, strained, and that scared me more than if he’d come in yelling.

Mariah took a step toward him, her protective instincts in full swing. “No way. She doesn’t owe you a single second of her time.”

I swallowed hard, my throat tight, and put a trembling hand on Mariah’s arm. “It’s okay,” I whispered, though my voice shook. “I… I’ll hear him out.”

Her head whipped toward me like she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “Jess, no. After everything he said?”

“Please,” I begged, my eyes filling. “I just… I need to.”

Mariah looked like she wanted to fight me on it, but finally, with a frustrated groan, she threw her hands up. “Fine. But I’ll be right outside, and if he so much as breathes wrong, I swear I will—”

“I know,” I said quickly, forcing a weak smile. “Thank you.”

With a muttered curse aimed at Noah, Mariah grabbed her jacket and left. The moment the door closed, the silence between us was deafening. My heart pounded so loudly it felt like he must hear it.

Noah shifted uncomfortably, his hands buried deep in his hoodie pockets, shoulders tense like he wanted to run but couldn’t.

I crossed my arms, hugging myself for strength. “Well?” My voice was cold. “Say what you came to say.”

He hesitated, then said quietly, “About last night—”

“Don’t.” The word came out sharper than I meant, slicing through the room. “Don’t you dare try to brush it off like it was nothing.”

His head jerked back, like he hadn’t expected me to bite back. “I’m not,” he said quickly. “I just—” He dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling harshly. “I screwed up, okay? I said some things I didn’t mean.”

A bitter laugh ripped from my chest. “Oh, right. You didn’t mean them. Funny how that’s your excuse every single time.”

His face hardened. “That’s not fair.”

“No?” My voice cracked, rising with every word. “You’ve spent years making jokes about me. Calling me names. Laughing with your friends about how hilarious it is that I exist. And then you turn around and—” I stopped, my throat closing on the words I couldn’t say out loud. Act like you care.

Noah took a step toward me, his eyes flashing. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?” I demanded, my tears spilling over. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you just like making me feel worthless!”

Something in his jaw ticked, and then he muttered, almost too low to hear, “I don’t want you to feel that way.”

“Then stop doing it!” My voice broke on the last word. “Stop tearing me apart just to look cool in front of Jackson and Daniel!”

His face twisted with guilt, but instead of apologizing, he snapped. “God, Jessa, you need to stop playing the victim all the time.”

I froze, my heart lurching painfully. “Then why do you keep hurting me?”

His mouth opened, but no words came out. The conflict in his eyes was clear — and then, just like that, it was gone. He slammed the walls back up, smirking cruelly.

“Maybe because it’s easier to mess with you than admit anything real,” he said coldly. “Maybe I like having someone to tease.”

The air went out of my lungs like I’d been punched.

“You know what, Noah?” My voice trembled, but I forced the words out. “I hope you do enjoy it. Because I’m done playing your game.”

He took a step toward me, reaching out like he wanted to stop me, but I backed away. “Jess, wait—”

“No.” My tears were hot and unstoppable now. “You came here to clear your conscience, but you didn’t think about me. About how it feels to be the joke every single time. Well, congratulations, Noah. You win.”

And with that, I turned and walked out, my chest aching like it might split apart.

The second I hit the hallway, Mariah was there, her eyes wide with fury. “What did he say? Do I need to bury him in the backyard?”

I let out a strangled laugh, half-sob, half-scream. “No. He’s already done enough damage.”

She wrapped me in a fierce hug, rocking me back and forth as I shook. “Jess, listen to me,” she said fiercely. “You are done letting him make you feel small. Starting today, you focus on you. Not Noah. Not Jackson. You.”

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to be strong.

But deep down, a part of me still ached for the boy who couldn’t decide if he wanted to love me or destroy me.