All Chapters of Invisible To Her Bully: Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

NoahSaturday night, and Daniel’s house is already packed to the brim.Music pounds through the speakers, shaking the walls, while the scent of cheap beer, pizza, and too many bodies crammed together lingers in the air. Laughter and shouting mingle, filling every corner of the house. Typical weekend chaos in Ridgefield.Jackson and I push our way through the crowd, and as usual, everyone gravitates toward him instantly. Being the star quarterback makes him the unofficial king of this town. I trail behind, my usual role as his best friend, wingman, and occasional troublemaker firmly in place.“Carter!” Daniel shouts the second he sees me. He slaps me on the back with enough force to rattle my teeth. “Man, you missed it! Luke just tried to backflip off the porch railing.”I smirk, already picturing the disaster. “Let me guess—he face-planted?”“Like a champ.” Daniel howls with laughter, practically doubling over. “The dude might have a concussion, but it was worth it.”Jackson shakes hi

JessaI should’ve kept my damn mouth shut.The second the words “Wouldn’t want you thinking you’re the queen of the party” slipped out, I saw it—the way Jessa’s eyes darkened, how her shoulders curled inward like I’d just slapped her.And then she shut down.She didn’t yell, didn’t snap back like Mariah would have.She just… folded into herself, hiding behind a fake smile.And it felt worse than if she’d screamed at me.Now, standing on the other side of Daniel’s living room with a cup of warm beer in my hand, I can’t stop replaying that moment in my head. I watch her across the room, half-hidden by Mariah’s group of friends. She’s laughing at something, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.I know I hurt her. Again.And this time, it wasn’t even in front of the guys. It was just me being… me.Stupid.Cowardly.The truth is, Jessa’s been under my skin for years.When I first met Jackson’s twin, she was just this shy, quiet girl who tagged along reluctantly, always hovering in the background.

JessaI don’t remember how I got here.One second, I was in Daniel’s living room, surrounded by dozens of staring eyes, my heart splintering as the words poured out of me. The next, I was outside, running barefoot down the street, mascara streaking my cheeks and lungs burning.Now, I’m curled up on Mariah’s bed, clutching one of her pillows so tightly it feels like it’s the only thing keeping me from flying apart completely.The room smells like her vanilla-scented candles, soft and warm, but it does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.I can still see them—Noah’s stunned face, Jackson’s disbelief, Daniel’s uncomfortable shuffle like he couldn’t wait to look away.I can still hear the silence after my outburst, the way the entire party stopped, everyone staring like I was some spectacle.And worst of all, I can still feel it.The way my heart cracked open when Noah didn’t say a single damn word in my defense.“Breathe, Jessa.”Mariah’s voice is gentle but firm. She’s kneeling b