Rowena Roman

Chapter 8 Noah: Part 8 (Edited)

"Looks like the rain has stopped," Diana said as they left the pub and inhaled deeply at the damp nighttime air. "Though it's probably for the best, it gives Conscious a chance to relax."

"There's no need to worry about me Diana, I can rest when we return home." the mouse said as he now rested on Diana's right shoulder. "I'll be fine."

Noah watched the two as they walked. At the moment she seemed like a regular girl, he found it fascinating how her personality could flip from one thing to another. But even with that thought he couldn't help but notice the air around her still held that moment of being much older than anyone else. He wondered how others interacted with her thought. But something he noticed earlier stuck with him.

"Have you ever had children?"

Diana stopped in her tracks and looked at him; her expression was blank but her eyes expressed more than he could fathom. "What makes you think that?"

Noah hesitated for a moment. "Well, how you reacted with the kid, you changed."

"If you're talking about that whole thing with Conscious before, I just thought to give the kid more imagination; god knows it's needed in this time. Although it's getting a bit better, even if parents are still too overprotective about them." She paused and frowned as if she was rethinking what she had said. "Though with how much of the world seems to be at constant war with itself I suppose that's something that shouldn't be overlooked."

"But that's not it is it?" Noah asked causing her to stop again. "You looked upset with how you treated the kid in the pub."

"So what?" Diana looked at him with a narrowed gaze. "How I treat kids and how I treat adults might seem different to you, but unlike most people who claim to be adults I know that kids, no matter where they come from should have a fair shot at life, even if their own parents treated them like shit. Children deserve hope and imagination, and a lot of the time I wanted to help but I couldn't do it or I'm seen as too young. And in cases like that the people who call themselves adults will look down at those who are trying to take care of the kids when those so-called adults ignore those kids needing help. Many of the kids I've tried to help in need some turn out fine... others... I'd rather not talk about."

"But have you ever had kids of your own?"

She didn't look at him when she answered. "No, I've never had kids. With the life I've lived, even if I was capable I'm sure the children that I would have, would think I'm nothing more than a monster, I've had my fair share of dark moments." She glanced at him then kept walking. "Come on, it'll rain again soon we should hurry back."

When Monday arrived the two of them headed to school Diana had her new uniform and talked like the conversation from that night at the pub didn't truly happen. No, she just moved on from it, that much Noah could tell.

When they reached the school a number of students were talking about a brake-in that happened yesterday, Noah could only assume that Diana was behind it since she had to get a new uniform since her other one had been sullied with blood and burned shortly after.

"Hey Noah!" James called out to him from the classroom before running up to him. "I tried to calling you but you never picked up."

"Sorry James, my mobile died and I didn't have my charger with me." When Diana had taken him to her place she didn't give him much of a chance to grab some things from his dorm.

James looked both relived and worried. "You weren't at your dorm room?"

"No," Noah frowned. "Why, did something happen?"