Notes: Thanks to melissaadams22 for reviewing. Yeah I realize that they come across as kind of OOC in this but they are meant to be younger and less burdened by everything. The stuff about Oxford is true and yes the math is just completely made up
"So what class is next?" Helen asked enthusiastically when the trio had finished their lunch, "biology? Literature? Physics? Natural histo-"
"Mathematics I believe," Nikola answered recalling the tedious class, it was too easy for him really.
"Excellent," Helen exclaimed cheerfully, "shall we go then gentleman?"
"Of course," John agreed hurriedly rushing to pull out Helen's chair for her.
"Follow me then," Nikola offered leading the pair.
He wasn't quite sure why he was doing this, John had been right about him not usually hanging around with the other alumni. He always found them so hard to relate to, most to all of them had come from well off families with money while he was not and then there was the fact that they all bored him, not only did they lack intelligence but they acted pretty much the same as each other. Helen on the other hand was different, in a good way and he couldn't help but take a sudden liking to her.
"Did you know that the school motto is Dominus Illuminatio Mea?" Helen told them excitedly, "its Latin for-"
"The Lord is My Light," Nikola finished her sentence for her, "the opening words to Psalm 27. And did you know that there is no clear founding date either? The earliest recorded use of this is building is in-"
"1096," Helen interjected and he couldn't help but smile, "we are walking in a building that is almost a minimum of 800 years old."
"Fascinating," John announced unconvincingly.
"Trivia boring you Johnny?" Nikola retorted to which John sighed.
"Can you please not call me Johnny?" John replied tiredly.
"Why not?" he asked curiously.
"It's not my name, my name is John Druitt," John explained patiently, "in this country we tend to refer to people by their actual names."
"Wasn't your first name Montague rather than John?" Nikola commented recalling the fact.
"How would you like it if I called you... Nik-o-la...y?" John invented and he heard Helen snort with suppressed laughter.
"I wouldn't mind," Nikola informed him smirking, "it just makes you sound like a moron while I'm still a genius."
"Hey genius you've just taken a wrong turn," John pointed out making Nikola pause and realize he was right.
"I was intending to take Helen through a more scenic route," Nikola lied hoping he wasn't blushing with embarrassment.
"That direction leads to the exit, genius," John taunted as they turned back to the correct path.
"Alright, hush Monty," Nikola hissed.
"Fine call me Johnny if you want to," John gave in frustrated.
"How old are you two?" Helen wondered bemused.
"We're here," Nikola announced changing the subject as they entered professor Bedford's classroom.
Nikola suppressed an eye roll as he surveyed the classroom, idiot students lined the seats engrossed in semi bored conversation with each other while the rather plump middle aged man known as Professor Bedford sat at his desk munching away on an apple and continually checking the time on his gleaming golden pocket watch. He looked up at them as they arrived, his unusual violet eyes registering a mixture of surprise and disgust at the newcomers.
"Well Mister Tesla, nice of you to show up," he greeted him blandly before turning his attention to Helen, "and Miss Magnus. The woman studying at Oxford, I remind you that you are merely auditing classes. Nothing you say or do will go towards any kind of grades, if you feel the need to join in the work than I will mark it but not grade at it as you do not matter. Assuming you can read of course."
"I assure you I can read Professor Bedford," Helen retorted seemingly ignoring the laughter of the class and Bedford's self-satisfied smirk, "and I understand that I will not get any credit for my work despite how unfair a rule that is."
"Come on," Nikola muttered deciding to just ignore it also before John started punching people, which seemed likely considering the infuriated look scrawled across his face.
He led them to near the back which was where the empty seats were, Helen sat down beside him and John on her other side. He hoped as much for Helen's sake as his own that the lesson might actually be interesting for once, much to his disappointment however when Bedford had finally finished his apple and began his boring drawl, Nikola noted he was actually doing the equation wrong, why such an allegedly brilliant school hired math teachers who couldn't actually do math was behind him. He simply slouched in his seat disinterested and tried not to stare at Helen who was scowling at the chalkboard.
"Penny for your thoughts," Nikola whispered offering her a coin with a sly smile.
"He's writing the equation wrong," Helen pointed out giving him a puzzled look.
"I know," Nikola noted spinning the coin on the desk.
"Well aren't you going to say something?" Helen wondered snatching the coin from him.
"Why bother?" he asked of her shrugging.
"How is the equation wrong?" John wondered glancing between the pair of them.
"Fine," Helen hissed raising her hand politely, "excuse me Professor Bedford?"
"I'm sorry, is this beyond your intelligence Miss Magnus?" Bedford retorted instantly with a triumphant grin eliciting more laughter from the narrow minded drones he taught.
"No," Helen answered firmly, "I merely wanted to point out that you are doing the equation wrong."
"How do you get that?" Bedford asked raising a hairy eyebrow doubtfully.
"Firstly Pi is 3.14159 not 3.11459, secondly you cannot multiply it by y, it has to be x," Helen reeled off confidently, "or else you would be working out a completely different number to the one you've got, you forgot to factor in the exact degree of the angle oh and you didn't carry the one."
"She's right you know," Nikola pointed out almost smirking at the stunned looks she was receiving as Professor Bedford snapped his attention back to the equation to figure out that she was right.
"She is right," agreed James Watson and Nikola glanced at the perceptive student.
"I know," Bedford snapped red faced and continued in a blatantly obvious lie, "I did the equation wrong intentionality to see if any of you were paying attention and apparently some of you were. Well done to Miss Magnus and Misters Tesla and Watson for point that out to the class. Let that be a lesson to you, don't not listen to me when I am talking to you or you will be outsmarted by a woman. Class dismissed."
"I resent that," Helen muttered darkly as they all rose to leave and began shuffling out of the classroom.
"Ignore him Miss Magnus," Watson offered giving her an approving smile, "you've won a great victory today."
"Why thank you," Helen replied seeming to cheer up slightly.
"We should be thanking you for completely humiliating Bedford," Nikola informed her brightly, "most worthwhile mathematics class I have ever attended."
