Liam bursts out laughing.

"You know, Rowan would take you up on that," he comments. "Personally, I'm not sure what I'd do with unspecified state secrets."

"I almost believe that innocent face. Ask Callie and Stiles what they'd do with state secrets, and you'll see why I can't just go spreading them." 

He considers what he knows about Callie and Stiles. 

"I think I can imagine, yes."

But they seem to be actually entertaining the question, so he attempts to figure out his own answer. "I think I'd take it straight to Rowan, because she'd never forgive me if she found out I knew a cool secret and didn't tell her. And then...it depends on the secret."

"That's almost sensible. I'll keep you in mind."

Liam has class, as usual.

And, as usual, Stiles wants to be early to Chem?

Liam catches up with him about halfway there. He's going for 'interesting', these days, when interacting with people he's not already friends with. Apparently 'friendly' is too obvious. 

"So, according to David, I should ask you what you'd do with state secrets."

"Blackmail, judicious leaks, and the threat of those. Why?"

"He was explaining why he wouldn't spread them around, if he knew any."

David might, actually, know some interesting secrets, judging by the way he was talking about it. It's still not likely, not in a school full of apparently normal teenagers, but David seems more likely than most of them.

"My answer merited an 'almost sensible', which from David I think might have been a compliment."

"Yeah. You're not getting anything better. He likes his pets more than people." 

The fact that David apparently has pets gets noted. Liam may not be on Rowan's level when it comes to remembering science-related information, but people-related he can do.

"What about you? Pets, friends, or both?" 

This conversation seems to be going better than their last, but it might not stay that way. His usual tactics don't work on Stiles, or maybe it's more a general cultural problem given that he failed with Erica as well...

"No pets, one to three friends depending on how you count." 

He starts to pick up the pace, finally noticing that he's slowed down to have this conversation. 

Liam matches his pace. It wouldn't do to be late for Chem. 

"Callie, Matt and David?" he guesses. "You guys seem like friends to me. I guess Callie's the 'one'?"

"We're the closest. I've known David the longest." 

It looks like they're actually on time today! Lucky them.

Lucky indeed. Liam doesn't want to think about what would happen if he got a detention.

Mr. Harris doesn't comment on their punctuality. 

One student is late, though.

She tries to apologize.

"Sorry I'm late, Mr. Harris, I was-" 

"I'll see you after school, Pratt. Take a seat."

She sits.

Chemistry eventually comes to an end.

Meanwhile, Rowan has Spanish with Scott and Erica. She has been growing a lot more confident in her spoken Spanish over the last few days of talking with Scott, but is still very aware that her vocabulary is limited. 

Still, she can manage a "Buenos días!" without feeling even slightly worried about getting it wrong and making a fool of herself. 

Scott seems to be impressed!

They're rather obviously ahead of the class now, and the teacher seems approving, but naturally focuses on the other students.

Scott wants to make sure they can express preferences and talk about time.

Rowan is good at memorising vocabulary and grammar rules, but less good at putting sentences together on the spot without referring to her notes. Still, she can have a go at constructing some sentences in past and future tense. 

She's confident enough in Scott and Erica now that she can try things even when she's not sure they're right, trusting that they'll help her correct it instead of laughing or making fun of her. With that security in place, she makes progress faster.

They don't laugh. 

Erica isn't much ahead of her, but she's supportive. 

And then they have lunch.

At lunch, Rowan waves Liam over to join them, remembering that he wanted to talk to Scott.

"Go on," she whispers. "Ask him. The worst that can happen is he'll say no."