All Chapters of Invisible To Her Bully: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

NoahThe locker room was buzzing, electric with pregame adrenaline. The steady hum of voices mixed with the sharp clatter of cleats against the concrete floor and the sharp, tangy smell of sweat and athletic tape. The whole place felt alive, thrumming with the kind of nervous energy you only got before a big game.I sat on the bench, tugging my jersey over my pads and rolling my shoulders to get loose. Tonight wasn’t just any game—this was the game. The one with the college recruiter in the stands. The one that could change everything for Jackson, for some of the guys… hell, maybe even for me.I needed to be sharp.Focused.Locked in.Which was exactly why I’d been avoiding Jessa all day.The image of her in that shirt—Jackson’s number stretched across her chest—had been burned into my brain since the pep rally. It didn’t matter how many times I told myself to let it go. It didn’t matter how much I tried to drown it out with drills, strategy talks, or even trash talk with the guys.Ev

JessaBy the time I pushed my way back through the crowd and reached the bleachers, my chest felt tight, like I’d been holding my breath for a mile. The roaring cheers of the crowd faded into a dull, hollow buzz in my ears.Mariah spotted me immediately, her face lighting up—until she got a good look at mine.“Uh-oh,” she said, leaning forward. “Where’s the nachos, girl? Don’t tell me you ate them all on the way back.”I tried to laugh, but it came out shaky, more like a gasp. I sank onto the bench beside her, hugging my arms around myself. “I… didn’t get them.”Mariah’s eyes narrowed. She turned to face me fully, scanning my expression. “Okay, spill it. What happened?”I stared straight ahead at the field, my throat aching. Out there, Jackson was high-fiving his teammates, and Noah was pacing near the sideline, helmet in hand, intense and focused. They looked like they belonged. Like they were somebody.And me? I was just the joke in the stands.“Nothing,” I said quickly, too quickly

JessaThe stadium was still buzzing, cheers echoing through the cool night air as the scoreboard flashed WINNER in bold, glowing letters. My heart was still hammering, my voice hoarse from yelling as I clutched Mariah’s arm.Our school had pulled it off.Jackson had led the team like the star quarterback he was, and Noah… well, Noah had played like a man possessed. That last tackle? The interception? My chest swelled with pride just thinking about it.Mariah squeezed my arm, practically vibrating with excitement. “Come on, Jessa! Let’s go congratulate Jackson and the guys!”I froze.Standing on the field, in the middle of all those people—most of whom probably didn’t even know my name—felt like stepping into a spotlight I wasn’t sure I wanted. My stomach twisted, anxiety creeping up my throat. “I don’t know…” I mumbled, biting my lip.Mariah rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh no, you are not backing out now. Your brother just crushed it out there, and Noah—” she smirked knowingly, “—we

MariahMy mouth was still hanging open as I stared at Jessa. She stood there like a statue, her cheeks flushed and her wide eyes shimmering under the bright stadium lights. The crowd was still roaring from the win, but it felt like the whole world had gone quiet around us.Noah had just kissed her.Like… really kissed her.And then Jackson went full-on caveman, practically dragging Noah off her like some jealous protector in a bad teen drama.“Holy crap,” I muttered under my breath, trying to process the chaos I’d just witnessed.Jessa’s lips parted like she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. She just stood there, frozen, clutching at the shirt I’d made for her like it was a lifeline. She looked like someone had just dumped a bucket of ice water over her head.My heart twisted. She was stunned, hurt, embarrassed—all at once.Meanwhile, Jackson was storming across the field, his broad shoulders tense, practically radiating fury.“Oh no, no, no,” I said, shaking my head. “Th

JessaThe noise of the crowd faded into a dull roar, like I was underwater.I just stood there, frozen in the middle of the chaos, while everyone around me celebrated. The field lights were blinding, and the smell of sweat and fried food mixed in the air, making my stomach churn.But none of that mattered.All I could hear were Daniel’s words echoing in my head.“…the only reason Noah’s paying attention to you is because he lost a bet.”At first, they hadn’t registered. My mind had been spinning too fast, still caught on Noah’s hands cupping my face, the way he’d kissed me like he’d been holding back for years.But now?Now those words hit me like a freight train.A hot flush burned across my cheeks, my chest tightening as realization sank in.It wasn’t real.He wasn’t real.The kiss. The stolen glances. The jealousy over me wearing Jackson’s number.All of it—a joke. A bet.My throat closed up, and suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.Somewhere nearby, people were shouting Jackson’s name, c