Character Relationship Map: Crush

Characters

• Paige Evans (played by Rowan Blanchard) — protagonist

  Protagonist and high school art student aiming for CalArts. Suspiciously linked to anonymous graffiti artist 'KingPun', she joins the track team to avoid suspension. Initially crushes on popular stude...

• AJ Campos (played by Auliʻi Cravalho) — protagonist

  Paige's sister and track teammate. Trains Paige for the 4x100 relay while assisting in the KingPun investigation. Revealed to be the secret graffiti artist, she faces suspension but is later exonerate...

• Gabriela Campos (played by Isabella Ferreira) — supporting

  Popular student and Paige's initial romantic interest. Rides in the relay with Paige and AJ. Shares a brief, awkward kiss with Paige, later attempts to reconnect in a hotel hallway but is rebuffed. Ev...

• Dillon (played by Tyler Alvarez) — supporting

  Paige's friend who offers relationship advice. He suggests that Paige's awkward kiss with Gabby signaled the end of her crush, helping Paige realize her feelings have shifted toward AJ.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Paige Evans → AJ Campos (Romantic Partners) — Their connection develops from AJ training Paige and helping with the KingPun investigation into mutual romantic feelings; a revelation about Paige and Gabby's earlier kiss temporarily hurts AJ.

  Paige and AJ grow closer after Paige's awkward kiss with Gabby. They kiss during the party game, and after AJ's suspension is reversed, they share ano...

• AJ Campos → Gabriela Campos (Family Sisters) — The sisters share the relay-team storyline; Gabby inadvertently tells AJ that she and Paige had kissed, contributing to AJ's heartbreak.

  The plot identifies AJ as Gabby's sister and places both on the relay team with Paige.

• Paige Evans → Gabriela Campos (Romantic Former Crush) — Paige's unrequited crush leads to an awkward first kiss, but she realizes her feelings have shifted; Gabby later helps Paige stage an apology mural.

  Paige has a long-time crush on Gabby. They share an awkward kiss during a school stakeout, and Paige later rebuffs Gabby's attempted kiss at the track...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Paige Evans → Dillon (Social Friend And Adviser) — Dillon offers Paige relationship advice that helps her recognize her changing feelings.

  Dillon is identified as Paige's friend and suggests that her uncomfortable kiss with Gabby may mean her crush has passed.

Story Analysis

A high school artist investigates anonymous graffiti while navigating changing romantic feelings, leading to an honest apology and reconciliation.

Plot Progression

1. The Suspected Artist — Paige pursues her CalArts ambition while students and administrators suspect her of being KingPun. To avoid suspension, she joins the track team and begins investigating the graffiti artist.
2. Changing Feelings — Paige and AJ investigate together as Paige shares an awkward kiss with Gabby. Dillon's advice helps Paige consider that her old crush may have ended, while her bond with AJ grows.
3. The Meet and Revelation — At the track meet, Paige and AJ kiss during a party game, while Paige turns away Gabby's later attempt to reconnect. After the relay, Gabby reveals their earlier kiss, and AJ discloses that she is Kin...
4. The Apology Mural — Paige tries to take responsibility for AJ's graffiti, but learns AJ has already confessed and been suspended. With Gabby's help, Paige presents a mural apology at school and submits it for her CalArts...
5. Reconciliation — Paige's apology helps bring about AJ's suspension reversal. The sisters reconcile and share another kiss, bringing Paige's changing romantic story to a hopeful close.