The Prototype

28. Satan Himself

TEMPEST POV

As we gathered around the dining room table, the constant chatter filled my ears. Gia, Gabby, and Nino were seated across from me and were engaged in a seemingly never-ending bickering session. Rico and Sapphire lightly instigating as usual, adding fuel to the already fiery conversation. It was difficult to catch what was being said from the other end of the table, where Mr. and Mrs. Galileli were seated, as the noise level was high and their voices were drowned out by the others.

"Someone is mighty quiet" I felt Sapphire softly nudged me with her elbow getting my attention that she was referring to me. "Yeah, you know Sapphire I could say the same for someone else." Gabby mentioned as she looked at Romeo who looked like he hadn't had good sleep in days. It seems as though all eyes were on me and then on Romeo. I finished chewing my food, gently wiping my mouth with the cloth napkin. "I am perfectly fine, when have I ever been super talkative this early in the morning?" Nino let out a chuckle, "She got a point." he defended before stuffing his mouth with food.

Watching as Gia looked over at Romeo with concern etched on her face, she asked softly "Romeo? Are you feeling okay?" Romeo took a sip of coffee. Lowering the mug from his lips "I'm just tired that's all" he replied wearily. "I definitely could take a lovely nap after this and probably will be." he expresses, his voice almost hoarse from the tiredness of his body.

Gia chuckled at Romeo's response, her eyes lands to me "You've been having Romeo up all night with you in the Technology building, haven't you?" she asked with a mischievous smile teasingly.

Quickly shaking my head denying the accusations "Actually, Romeo has been having himself up all night and early mornings with me, even after I constantly suggest to him to go and get rest, there's only so many times I'm going to suggest something until I just stop suggesting and let him learn the hard way and by the looks of it, he has finally learned his lesson to listen to my suggestions the first go around." I corrected slightly shrugging my right shoulder.

Hearing Gabby's softy laughs causing my eyes to follow onto her as I began to scoop another fork full of the amazing breakfast casserole that we were having for breakfast enjoying the lovely flavors of the sweet Italian sausage, eggs, green onions, melted shredded sharp cheddar cheese all exploding into my mouth.

I watched as Gabby's eyes looked onto Romeo "Yeah you definitely should've listened to her. It's quite normal for Tempest to be up til sunrise in the Technology building and then only get a few hours of sleep until she then wakes up for breakfast with us and then go take a nap afterward and back in the technology building she go to do it all back over again. She's been doing it since she got access to the technology building, unfortunately, Romeo, you don't stand a chance thinking you could do what she does." Gabby explained to him which was a perfect description of me and my relationship with the technology building.

Romeo softly chuckled, his tired eyes barely able to stay open. Watching as he took another sip of his coffee. "I guess I just really been enjoying learning from her and working with her that lately I have been pushing myself and refusing to go to sleep until I can no longer fight it," He explained.

I finished taking a sip from my coffee and place it down carefully next to my plate. "Yeah, and you've been doing that since we started working on Sunday. It's now Thursday and just look ar you," I teased, glancing at Romeo and the dark circles under his eyes.

Romeo let out a soft, exhausted chuckle, but no words left his mouth. I could tell his exhaustion was taking over his ability to hold a full conversations. "I'm guessing you're going to be indulging in a nap as well?" Sapphire nudged me with her elbow, breaking my gaze from Romeo.

I shook my head "No, I won't actually." I inform not even looking at Sapphire as I focus back on my food stuffing a fork of casserole into my mouth. Gia, Gabby, and Sapphire all in sync playfully gasp in shock at my response. "You? Not taking a nap? Are you feeling okay? That's not like you." Gabby jokingly spoke.