Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 49

Jessa

The whole school buzzed with restless energy, the kind that only came with a Friday game day — and not just any game day. Tonight, the bleachers would be packed, the field lights blazing, and the fate of Jackson’s future riding on every single play.

The hallways were chaos. Kids darted between lockers, faces painted with our school colors, carrying poster boards and noisemakers. Cheerleaders zipped past me, squealing with excitement as they rushed to get ready for the pep rally.

I hugged my books tighter to my chest and tried to blend into the background, like always.

This kind of atmosphere was made for people like Jackson and Noah — people who owned the spotlight. Not me.

I was halfway to my locker when Mariah appeared out of nowhere, blocking my path with a big, mischievous grin.

“There you are!” she said, holding something behind her back like she was about to reveal a magic trick.

I eyed her warily. “Why do you look like you’re up to something?”

“Because I am,” she said, practically bouncing on her toes. With a dramatic flourish, she pulled out a shirt and held it up in front of me.

It was a simple T-shirt, but it was in our school colors with Lombardi written across the back in bold letters and a big glittery #12, Jackson’s jersey number.

I blinked, caught completely off guard. “Mariah…”

“Don’t even start,” she cut me off, thrusting the shirt into my hands. “You’re wearing this to the pep rally. No arguments.”

My first instinct was to refuse. “I don’t know, Mariah. Everyone’s going to be dressed up and hyped and—”

“Exactly,” she said, giving me a pointed look. “Which is why you need to stop lurking in the shadows and actually be part of something for once.”

I frowned, staring down at the shirt. “You know how this goes. I try to stand out, and I end up being the joke of the day. Again.”

Her expression softened, and she gently touched my arm. “Jessa, listen to me. This isn’t about them. It’s about you. Tonight is a big night for Jackson, and this pep rally is for everyone to show support. You deserve to be part of that — and you deserve to be seen.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected.

For so long, I’d been trying to make myself invisible because it felt safer that way. If no one saw me, no one could tear me down.

But standing there in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by kids cheering and laughing, a little voice in the back of my mind whispered, Maybe Mariah’s right. Maybe it’s time to stop hiding.

I held the shirt up in front of me. “You really think I can pull this off?”

Mariah grinned. “Oh, honey, you’re going to rock it. Trust me.”

A group of cheerleaders rushed past us, chanting as they headed toward the gym, and I suddenly realized just how close we were to the rally starting.

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