The Modified (The Biotics Trilogy, #1) Read Online Free Page A

came to my bedroom window after his Dad beat the crap out of him. That’s actually why we started meeting in this field by Old Man Gary’s farm.
    Ever since we were kids, Joey and I have loved looking at the stars, and this field was the perfect place to do that. Before we were old enough to drive, we used to come out here with Dylan. We’d all lie in the back of his truck and stare up into the peaceful night sky. Those were definitely happy times.
    “Hey, stranger. I wasn’t sure if you’d show up tonight. You know, with us leaving tomorrow and all,” I say as I see him shielding his eyes from the brightness of my car’s headlights.
    “I’d never miss our Thursday nights,” he replies with a grin. “Besides, Dad’s been in rare form lately, and I didn’t want to push my luck.” He laughs off his statement, but I know it bothers him. “Hey, what? No pizza this time?”
    “Oh crap, I knew there was something I was forgetting.”
    “You just don’t want to go to Jonnie’s Pizza Place anymore since you found out that Bobby Fowler has a crush on you,” he jokes.
    “Not true. Bobby Fowler has a girlfriend.”
    Joey laughs. “Uh, he’s a guy. Just because he has a girlfriend doesn’t mean he isn’t looking. And word is he’s been looking at you a lot lately. And you know how he has a thing for tall, athletic blondes.” 
    “First of all, gross. And for your information, not all men are like that. And second, he’s not even my type,” I reply with a huff.
    “Uh-huh,” Joey mutters sarcastically as he jumps onto the hood of his car and takes a seat. He taps the space next to him for me to join.
    I crawl onto the hood of the car and lay back on the windshield. As I look up into the sky, I take in a deep breath and begin to think about everything that will happen tomorrow. There’s a light breeze and I can hear it rustle through the field of long grasses that surrounds us, as they swish and sway. The smell of fresh flowers fills my nose as I take in a deep breath. It’s soothing really.
    “What’s on your mind?” Joey asks me as he settles into a laying position, resting his head on the windshield next to mine.
    I let out a little laugh. “Tons,” I reply and look over at him with worry in my eyes. He returns my look and grabs for my hand.
    “You know what, Kenley? No matter what happens to us, no one can take away the memories and times we’ve shared. Those are ours, and we will never lose them.”
    “Wow, you sound final,” I state with slight sadness in my voice.
    “No, not final. I just want you to know that. Just in case…you know,” he says, sending me a little smile while squeezing my hand.
    “Please don’t say things like that right now, okay? I don’t want to even imagine that,” I murmur as I turn away to look at the stars again. He just squeezes my hand and lets out a sigh.
    “I didn’t mean to make you upset. I just wanted you to know that,” he says quietly.
    “It’s okay, Joey. But tonight I just want to live in this moment for a bit and try not to think about what the future holds.”
    “Got it,” he states and turns to gaze toward the stars as well.
    I begin to feel bad about how I just handled the last conversation. It eats away at me since I know Joey was just trying to get out what he wanted to say. I was quick with him. He’s quite an emotional person and doesn’t really have much of an outlet other than talking to me.
    “Hey, Joey?” I ask, breaking the silence.
    “Yeah?”
    “Do you remember the game we used to play with Dylan? He used to drive us out here and we’d sit in the back of his truck while staring up at the sky and play that star game.”
    “How could I forget? The ‘What’s Your Star’ game, right?”
    “Yep.”
    “Yeah, I remember. You’d pick a star, name it, and then make up a story about it,” he replies with a warm laugh, almost like he was remembering back to a particular time.
    “Do you want to play? You know, for old