Chapter 8 – Love Doth Changeth
~~~~Fall 1878~~~~
Helen smoothed down the layers of her skirt, as she listened to Nikola ramble on about the Physics lecture they had just endured.
They were sitting outside in the small park near the University, under the shade of their willow tree.
"Could you believe that pompous, indignant prude, he has never seen an atom in his life and he acts like he knows the world, half his math was a mess, not to mention his suit…" Nikola's accented voice broke into her thoughts again and she giggled.
"You say that about every lecture," she looked over at him and smiled.
"Does not mean it is not true!" Nikola growled defensively and Helen just laughed more.
"One day it will be you up there, and you'll do it right," Helen patted his hand encouragingly.
"Not on my life, I would not waste my time teaching brainless asses my craft! I want to make a difference, not make a curriculum!" Nikola sneered and wrapped his long fingers over hers.
Helen squeezed his hand affectionately, sheloved the way he got fired up about the weirdest things. In fact there were very few things she didn't love about her best friend of almost two years. He was smart, adventurous, neurotical, compulsive, egotistical, intelligent, sweet, gentlemanly, caring, and loving. He was a complete contradiction of himself, and these qualities grew to excite her even more.
Her maid called it a crush, which was ridiculous; she was certainly to intelligent to crush…though she had to admit, there were several signs that there was more than just friendship between them
She had denied to Nikola remembering the night of her birthday as a drunken escapade, and he had admitted he was foggy on the whole event as well, but she had so enjoyed the feeling of waking up in his arms, the tenderness of how he wrapped his arms around her, either to keep her warm or to protect her.
And the kiss, it was like fire! Pure and hot to the touch; she found herself daydreaming about his lips on her skin much more than a proper lady should.
"Do you think we spend too much time together, Nikola?" she asked, without warning.
"What makes you say that?" asked Nikola, staring into her beautiful blue eyes.
"My aunt said it's improper for a lady to spend so much time with a man who is not her betrothed, or courting her," said Helen, she brushed a curly blonde lock out of her face.
"Helen, you are a fully grown woman who has the right to make company with any one she pleases, be it a man or a woman," said Nikola casually, he leaned on one of his elbows and picked at some grass.
"Even in a man's dormitory?" Helen giggled teasingly.
"Let them think what they will Helen, we know the truth, if they are so bored with their lives they must resort to making vile gossip about any thing out of their normal social convention, I say Fie to them, may they choke on their tea and scones of distaste!" Helen giggled at Nikola's over-dramaticism.
She stroked the small thin line of a mustache growing on his upper lip.
"You never believe in social convention," she chorkled lightly in her throat and got up and tossed a flower into the small pond.
"Neither do you, and that's why I like you," said Nikola following her and skipping a stone across the water's surface.
"You like me?" asked Helen, her voice teasing, but her heart skipped a beat in anticipation of his answer.
"You don't just think I talk with you because of your brains?" Nikola joked and Helen sighed.
"Of course not, I just find it hard to believe you like something other than yourself," she teased back giggling when he grabbed for her hand.
They were always playing like this; he always managed to make her feel like she was 8 years old again.
She ran, giggling and taunting, him chasing, saying something in his Serbian tongue.
She looked behind her, not seeing the stone in front of her and she suddenly lost her footing.
Nikola reached out to catch her but lost his balance and the two of them went tumbling down the small knoll, her body landing on his at the bottom.
They stayed like that together for a moment, letting the ridiculous moment wash over them, laughing out their embarrassment.
"Are you ok?" asked Nikola, he breathed in deeply to catch his breath.
"Yes, I'm fine, I may have twisted my ankle, but that's because my knight in shining armor failed to catch me!" she teased.
"Not my fault you've been having too many scones with your breakfast tea!" Nikola teased back and Helen laughed.
She looked at him, staring into his blue-grey eyes.
This was the part in one of her mother's old novels where the heroine and her fated love would share a passionate embrace.
The setting was perfect, the beautiful fall day warmed around them, their tree was nearby, and the sun's glare off the pond highlighted her blonde hair, and there was no one around to witness their moment.
She leaned in slightly, hesitantly, unsure if she should take the opportunity.
She sighed and blew caution to the wind, if this moment was meant to be than she would not let it pass. Not again.
She leaned in again; ready to kiss Nikola's soft lips, to experience a moment she had dreamed of, more than she was willing to admit, with him.
"Excuse me, is everything alright?" a voice shook her back into reality.
She moved to sit up, letting Nikola scramble from under her.
"I saw the fall, I was afraid someone might be hurt," a tall man came bounding down the hill, his dark brown hair blowing in the wind. "I have a doctorate, are there any injuries?"
"My ankle may be sprained, but nothing too serious," said Helen, admiring the man. He was indeed very tall, many inches taller than Nikola, not that Nikola was a very tall man. His long hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and a pocket-watch hung from his waistcoat.
"Do you mind if I examine it?" he asked gently, his deep, rich voice rumbling in her ears.
"I'm sure she is fine, I caught her on the way down," said Nikola kneeling beside her.
"Are you her fiancé?" asked the man.
"No he's not," answered Helen.
"I am just a friend," Nikola glared at the man.
The man knelt down and placed his hands gently on her leg and removed her boot carefully.
"Well, I think you're right, just a simple sprain, you should get home and ice it immediately though," he smiled kindly at her.
"Thank you, I'm Helen, Helen Magnus," she offered her hand to the kind stranger. "And this is my friend Nikola Tesla, I'm afraid we were horsing around a bit."
She smiled in return.
"I've heard of you two, Oxford's resident troublemakers," he laughed lightly. "Not a day goes by down at the pub when I don't hear another story of the infamous Lady Magnus giving her teachers grief, and her little friend chewing out the speakers in the lecture hall."
"With good reason," muttered Nikola.
"May I say it's a pleasure," the man took her hand and shook it lightly.
"And what may I call my gracious healer?" Helen giggled lightly again, not noticing Nikola's scowl behind her.
"The name's Druitt, Montague John Druitt."
Helen smiled at the well-educated gentleman.
"Pleased to meet you Mr. Druitt, it was so kind of you to care for me," he flashed her a gentle grin in return.
"Anything for a beautiful lady,' he bowed his head graciously," he helped her to her feet and she leaned on him, keeping her foot elevated. "May I offer you a ride home?"
"It's not necessary, I just live across the park," she pointed in the direction of her flat.
"Then you must let me escort you home," Nikola glared even more sourly at the man, his hands balling into fists.
"Well, if you insist," she looked back at Nikola. "I'll see you later then, Nikola."
She giggled as John helped her down the path to her home while Nikola stood, steadfastly, watching them leave. He seethed, shooting daggers with his eyes to the back of the man's head.
Nikola hated him instantly.