Page 19 of Puck Your Friend

“I made these for you.” I keep my voice steady. “I went with dark colors because they seemed more boyish. Something you might actually wear.”

They lean in closer.“The clasp works like this.” I hold up Logan’s and show them how the magnet works and now to make them release. “It’s magnetic but reinforced. Shouldn’t come off unless you slide them and pull.”

I motion for Logan to hold out his wrist and I put it on him, followed by the others. To my relief, they all fit, snug enough not to slide, but with a bit of room in case they grow more.

Wes holds his toward the light and turns it. “These beads, they don’t look like the cheap kit kind.”

I shake my head. “They’re called Miyuki beads. They’re uniform and good for beadwork. My aunt taught me the peyote stitch over the winter break. I wanted the perfect bead for them.”

Jace runs his thumb over the pattern. “You did all this by hand?”

“Yeah. Took a few weeks of practicing it before I was confident to do these. But I got faster.”

Ford stares at his. “They’re kinda perfect. Did you come up with the design?”

I nod. “I wanted something that represented us, and the tree of life felt the most fitting because, well, you know.” I touch our symbol. If I had more time, I would’ve figured out how to do that.

Clearing my throat, I look at them. “You’ll want to wipe them down once a week with a soft cloth. Like the kind used to cleanglasses.” I pull the cleaning kits I made to go with the bracelets from my hoodie’s pocket and hand them out.

Jace nods as he takes his kit. “Thank you.”

“If you want them to last longer, try not to get them wet.” I glance at Ford. “And don’t sleep in them. It causes less wear and friction on the thread.”

Ford swallows hard as he looks at me. “We didn’t get you anything.”

I shrug. “I didn’t do it to get something in return. I just...”

My heart hammers. There’s a thousand things I want to say. Things I didn’t realize until being back at camp with them. I care for them more than just my best friends, but how do I say that?

There’s no way for me to be with all of them. That dynamic is only for Omegas and Alphas. I won’t be an Omega and none of them come off as one either.

Jace tilts his head. “You, just?”

I shake my head. “Felt like making them.”

The words pinch in my throat and I have to swallow hard to make the sting go away. I dig my nails into my thighs until the feeling passes.

Jace holds up his fist for a bump. “I feel like I joined a secret club.”

I return it. “You kind of did.”

I move so I can get a better view of the sky. They settle around me. Logan stretches his legs out in the grass. Ford leans back on his elbows. Jace lies flat with one arm across his eyes. Wes stays cross-legged near my side.

The light shifts. Blue and amber streaks across the treetops as the air cools and the crickets and cicadas get louder.

I think about next summer.

What will they present as?

I have to be an Alpha. Being a Beta would ruin my dreams of going pro in basketball and then coaching it when I’m older. I’ll hit my growth spurt soon. Alpha girls usually do.

Late bloomers aren’t rare. My body is just taking its sweet time catching up with the others.

Ford’s voice cuts through the quiet. “You did good today.”

I look over. I don’t feel like I did. They helped me more than I would’ve liked. “You did, too. Team effort and all that.”

Wes hums low, approving. Logan cracks a sunflower seed with his teeth.