Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 32

Jessa

The second Daniel’s words hit my ears, it felt like the air had been sucked out of the cafeteria.

“The only reason anyone even talks to you is because of Jackson.”

“We just feel sorry for him for having a twin as pathetic as you.”

Every whisper, every snicker from the crowd cut into me like tiny knives. My vision blurred, heat burning behind my eyes. I could feel Jackson next to me, his whole body going rigid, but I didn’t stay to hear his reaction.

My tray clattered to the floor as I bolted, shoving past a group of girls by the doors. Laughter erupted behind me — or maybe it was just in my head. Either way, I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt tight, my pulse pounding in my ears.

“Jess! Wait up!” Mariah’s voice called from somewhere behind me.

I didn’t slow down. If anything, I moved faster, crashing through the cafeteria doors and into the hallway, ignoring the stares as I ran. I didn’t care where I was going — I just had to get out. Out of that room. Out of that moment.

“Jessa!” Mariah finally caught up, her sneakers squeaking against the tile. “Girl, what are you doing? You nearly took out three freshmen back there.”

I stopped only when I reached the side exit of the school and pushed the heavy metal door open, stumbling into the cool afternoon air. My chest heaved as I sucked in deep gulps of oxygen, hugging my arms tightly around myself.

Mariah burst through the door seconds later, bent over and gasping. “Geez, girl, you sprinted like someone was chasing you with a chainsaw.”

“I… I couldn’t…” My throat closed up, and I shook my head, blinking back tears. “I couldn’t stay in there.”

Mariah’s anger flared in her eyes. “Daniel is a freaking jerk. I swear, one of these days, I’m going to slap that smirk right off his face.”

I let out a bitter, broken laugh. “Don’t bother. He’s not wrong.”

Mariah froze. “Jess. Don’t you dare.”

“Why not?” My voice cracked as the words tumbled out. “He just said what everyone already thinks. That I’m pathetic. That nobody would even notice me if I wasn’t Jackson’s twin.”

“That’s bull, and you know it.” Mariah planted herself in front of me, hands on her hips. “You’re smart. You’re funny. You’re beautiful—”

“Stop.” I wrapped my arms tighter around my body, like I could hold myself together by sheer force. “I’m none of those things. I’m just… me. The extra twin. The mistake.”

Mariah’s expression softened, pain flickering across her face. “Jess, you are not a mistake.”

Before she could say more, the door behind us slammed open with a loud bang. Jackson stormed out, his face red and his breathing ragged. He looked like he’d sprinted out of there just as fast as I had.

“Jess!” His voice was sharp, urgent. His eyes darted between me and Mariah, his hands still clenched into fists. “Are you okay?”

“No.” I swiped at my tears furiously, hating how weak I felt. “But I will be if everyone would just stop asking me that.”

The silence stretched, thick and painful. Finally, Jackson took a shaky breath and spoke, his voice softer now. “You are enough. You’ve always been enough. If I haven’t made you feel that way, then… that’s on me. I’m sorry.”

I stared at him, my lip trembling. “Then why does it feel like you barely even see me?”

His voice broke. “Because I’ve been an idiot.”

He stepped closer, tentatively resting a hand on my shoulder. “Jess, you’re my sister. You’re the most important person in my life. I know I screw up. I know I get caught up in football and friends and all the noise. But none of that matters more than you.”

The tears came harder now, but for a different reason. “I just… I don’t want to keep feeling like this.”

“You won’t,” Mariah said firmly. “We’ll figure it out. Tonight, forget Daniel. Forget the bonfire. Forget all of them. We’ll do a self-care night, just us. No drama.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “That actually sounds… really nice.”

Jackson’s phone buzzed loudly. He glanced at it and sighed. “Coach needs me. But Jess?” He waited until I met his eyes. “If Daniel even looks at you wrong again, I’ll handle it.”

“No,” I said firmly, surprising myself. “I don’t need you to fight for me, Jackson. I can fight my own battles.”

Jackson studied me for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay. But just know I’ve got your back.”

For the first time today, I almost believed him.