Now, I’m not confirming or denying whether anything mentioned in this post is going to happen or not…I’m just saying “what if…?” I mean, you can’t really understand something until you’ve seen the other side of it, so WHAT IF?

The Maya character has inspired a LOT of hate for what happened between her and Lucas in S2. There are people who absolutely vilify her for it, as if Maya was actively trying to “steal” Lucas away from Riley (as if Maya would EVER!) Plenty of people understand that it was no one’s fault, not really, but there are others who absolutely demonize Maya for it. They want her to PAY.

So what if she did? What if she “paid?” What if Maya were to experience exactly what Riley went through in S2, except more explicitly and intensely?

What if—and mind you I’m just saying what IF—Maya were to enter into some kind of explicitly stated agreement with someone that they were going to absolutely definitely wait for each other? An “unofficial thing” which is explicitly discussed and agreed to onscreen as opposed to just kinda…stumbled into with no real discussion. And what if Maya were far more committed to said “unofficial thing” than the person she’s in it with? Like, what if she were to come across him “living his life” out on dates with another girl and he didn’t even bother to reassure her of his feelings/their agreement? What if he really, truly falls for someone who is…a better fit, more appropriate, say, even though he didn’t mean to and didn’t plan on it…and he calls an explicit end to the “unofficial thing,” even though he still really likes Maya and cares about her?

And let’s say Maya has this friend, a guy who she’s flat out said “isn’t her type” and isn’t what she wants, but they’re close, ya know? She trusts him. He’s the one who helps her through it, maybe with intense and private “just friends” talks in the Topanga’s courtyard or something…but it seems pretty clear that they’re really more than friends?

“But hey,” you might ask, “why the guy friend instead of Riley?”

Well…

What if Riley was busy experiencing what MAYA experienced in S2?

What if Riley began to have moment after moment, higher and higher key, with someone she shouldn’t be having those moments with? What if Riley were to struggle to manage those feelings as they grew too hard to ignore? What if Riley was worried about the havoc her feelings could wreak on other people if they got out…but then of course they get out anyway. What if Riley has a near kiss with that person she shouldn’t have feelings for, but instead of saying nothing about it…they flat out admit that they WANTED to kiss, but it’s explicitly stated that the only reason she/he/they held back is because of their obligations to other people they care about…or are involved with?

What if Riley also experiences what Maya went through with Farkle in S2, but dialed way, way up? Let’s say that instead of a pretend marriage, she embarks on an official relationship with all the trappings, something sugary and wrapped up all pretty, say. What if it ultimately culminates in a no sparks moment like the Markle high five, but again, it’s more explicit this time—like say maybe a no sparks kiss where they both acknowledge the lack of whoa? But then it’s revealed that the friendship is still deep and solid underneath?

And how would Riley even know it’s no sparks? Because she’s also had a near kiss with that person she wasn’t supposed to catch feelings for. She’ll be able to spot the difference.

Wouldn’t that all be very interesting?

And what if we applied this to the boys? What if Lucas were to find himself in Farkle’s S2 shoes?

What if, after spending some time honestly torn between two girls, Lucas committed himself (after being pushed and given a blessing by one girl) to a girl who makes sense to him, who he really likes and cares about? But then at the same time he’s still got this girl—the one who pushed him and gave her blessing—a friend, who we know he had (or maybe even still has) feelings for, but she’s in an agreed-to “unofficial thing” with another guy. What if other guy is just not playing and it’s hurting her? Let’s say that this is the girl Lucas would be with if he thought he could, but he thinks she’ll never be interested because she’s in a Thing with a guy he thinks he can’t compete with, and besides—he’s got his own reasons for being with the other girl, the one who “makes sense.” Maybe he even comes up with a nickname for the dude he can’t compete with, the Lucas equivalent of “freakface.” But most of all, he just wants his friend—his “just friend,” honest!—to be happy no matter what. So he helps her through it.

Anyway, what if he were to be there for this “just friend” through her drama with the “unofficial thing” but unlike with Riley and Farkle in S2, it was UNDENIABLE there are feelings between them that are much more than friendly? Even though he’s got a girlfriend, a nice girl who we all like, who makes sense? Or hey, maybe him and the girlfriend who makes sense will already have had a no sparks moment and ended things by the time Lucas is busy being there for his “just friend” through her drama…

And on the flip side, what if Farkle found himself in Lucas’s S2 shoes, caught between two girls: the one he’s supposed to be committed to and the one he’s not supposed to even have a shot with? What if he almost kisses the one he’s not supposed to have a shot with?

And what if, at the same time, Smackle were to find herself attracted to the last person you’d expect her to be attracted to, a goofball jock with a history of D’s and F’s?

What if all of the core four (by extension clique six) were to find themselves on the other side of the equation from where they were in S2, only with everything dialed up and more “real"—and the Rilaya friendship not quite as at stake because there are more variables this time? What if the same kind of stuff that happened in S2 happens again, but with the characters in different roles and with feelings and thoughts being explicitly stated this time around instead of left ambiguous and vague?

I’m just saying…what if?

In a square dance, you repeat the same steps with different partners.

You need eight people for a REAL square dance.

As of right now, we’ve got Riley, Maya, and Lucas “officially” square dancing (3), with Farkle included but not “officially” (4). (“He’s not even with us,” lol).

If we include Farkle we have to include Smackle, which brings us to (5). If they bring in Zay and Josh (and Jacobs said they’d bring everybody in…), that’s (6) and (7). All we need is an eighth partner…and, well…I think I know exactly what that eighth partner is gonna be. You can probably guess…

Then the square dance can begin for REAL, and maybe it’ll take until the end of the series to finish up, but either way? Seasons one and two were just practice. Getting everything into place. The real lesson begins…now.

Can y'all imagine the parade of parallel gif sets if this "what if?” scenario ends up playing out on the show? I mean, daaaaaang. But again, I’m only asking “what if?” 😏