If there’s one character in recent teen drama history who has worn her heart on her sleeve as boldly as her signature red lipstick, it’s Gigi Rivera .

The homecoming dance, where Marco showed up with another girl but spent the entire night watching Gigi laugh with someone else. Their “almost kiss” in the rain was iconic, but when Marco whispered, “I don’t want to ruin our friendship,” Gigi delivered the line that launched a thousand memes: “You don’t get to hold my hand in the dark and then act like I’m a stranger in the light.” Ouch. This storyline taught Gigi (and us) that waiting to be chosen is not a love story—it’s a hostage situation. The Flaming Rebound (Season 2) Post-Marco, Gigi entered her villain era —or as she called it, her “healing journey.” Enter Jax Whitmore , the mysterious new transfer with a motorcycle and a reputation.

Whether you’re Team Marco (toxic), Team Jax (chaotic), or Team Ava (healing), one thing is clear: Gigi’s high school relationships weren’t just filler arcs. They were the messy, beautiful, embarrassing, and essential process of figuring out who she was—by figuring out who she wasn’t.

Jax was all bad decisions and softer feelings. Their relationship was chaotic, electric, and completely unsustainable. They had late-night drives, spray-painted murals on abandoned lots, and a secret relationship that her parents would have hated.

At the spring fling, while a slow song played, Ava simply said, “I’m not Marco. I’m not Jax. I’m not going anywhere.” Their first kiss wasn’t in a dramatic downpour. It was in a quiet hallway after everyone else had left.

Jax saw Gigi as a force of nature, not a backup plan. He never made her feel like second choice. Why it crashed: Jax had a temper. After a jealous blow-up at a house party, Gigi realized that passion without stability is just a beautiful disaster. Their breakup—where Gigi threw a milkshake at his leather jacket—became hall-of-fame television. The Slow Burn We Didn't See Coming (Season 3) Just when we thought Gigi was swearing off romance to focus on student council and her art portfolio, the writers pulled the ultimate twist: Ava Chen .