"I kissed Zig.." |
The love triangle between Maya Matlin, Zig Novak, and Campbell Saunders, known as Novatlinders (Novak/Matlin/Saunders), began when Zig started liking Maya while she was dating Cam. Maya was in the center of the love triangle.
Love Triangle History[]
Overview[]
The love triangle started in Doll Parts (2) and ended in Bitter Sweet Symphony (1). At the beginning of their freshmen year, Maya and Zig met and became friends with him. Maya soon developed a crush on Zig, but unintentionally caused Zig to reconcile with Tori, whom he previously dated. Maya eventually moved on and started dating Campbell Saunders, Degrassi's star hockey player who had a crush on her.
Later on, Maya and Cam got into a fight which lead to Maya breaking up with him. Zig and Maya became closer as he convinced her to enter a beauty pageant, insisting she could easily win, and she gradually developed feelings for him. In a spur of the moment, Zig and Maya shared a rather passionate kiss and Zig developed feelings for her although Maya felt guilt ridden since he was still with Tori. He wanted to be with her, insisting they both "felt it", but decided she wanted to be with Cam thus starting their love triangle.
Season 12[]
Lead Up[]
In Doll Parts (1), While Maya and Cam are studying at Cam's house, Maya feels unappreciated when Cam doesn't pay attention to her, and feels embarrassed when she takes off her shirt in front of him only to receive a negative response. When she performs her song in front of Mo, he tells her he likes it, but the provocative innuendo of the song wouldn't be appropriate for her youthful appearance, and that it would be better if Imogen sung it. She tells Tori of these instances and Tori and Tristan decide to give her a makeover. When Maya shows Cam her new
Cam wanting to win Maya back.
appearance, Cam laughs at her, but when he tries to make up for it, Maya yells that she has no idea what he wants and runs to the band room, tearing off all her makeup. Zig finds Maya crying her eyes out and comforts her, which leads to the decision to join the beauty pageant that Tori is entering. While there, Maya is disappointed that Cam is not there and is afraid she did this for nothing. When she is called on stage, she falls on her face, but laughs it off. After her performance, she and Zig have a chat and Maya is surprised to find she has made it to the second round. After the show, she calls Cam and breaks up with him, before having a flirty moment with Zig. When Tori comes and kisses Zig, Maya seems troubled. In Doll Parts (2), Maya performs her song for Tristan and Tori. Tristan loves the song, while Tori, in a jealous rage, tells Maya that she has no shot at winning the Miss Millennial Pageant. Maya assumes it's because Tori
Zig and Maya kiss behind Cam and Tori's backs.
doesn't think she's pretty enough. Maya later tells Katie that she plans on asking Zig to help her with her act, and Katie worries that it will upset Tori even more. Maya asks Zig anyways, and Zig agrees, also saying that Maya is sexy enough to perform by herself. A few minutes later, Maya runs into Cam, who apologizes for not paying attention to her and not kissing her. He asks her for a second chance, and tells her he'll try harder, to which she responds, "You shouldn't have to try." Later at the pageant, Zig performs with Maya, and they share a kiss backstage. Maya instantly regrets it, while Zig doesn't seem to mind. Katie walks in and sees the kiss, later calling Maya out on it while preparing her for the interview. She asks Maya if she really wants to be a boyfriend stealer, and that she deserves better than a boy who kisses girls besides his girlfriend. She also tells Maya not to let a boy come between her and Tori's friendship.
Maya and Cam reunited as a jealous Zig looks on.
Later at the interview, Tori tells the judges that her biggest flaw is saying things without thinking of the consequences, and publicly apologizes to Maya. Maya tells the judges that she's a huge bitch, and runs out. She goes over to Cam's and apologizes, and the two reconcile. The next day, while Tori and Maya are back on good terms, Zig expresses his jealousy of her and Cam's relationship, saying they both "felt it" the other night when they kissed. Maya says she was confused and that she likes Cam, before going off with him.
In Tonight, Tonight, when WhisperHug makes it into the Battle of the Bands, Zig hugs Maya in excitement, which turns into an awkward moment for Maya.Maya is later with Campbell studying for their French oral report. Cam says a flirtatious line in French that gets Maya to kiss him. Right at that moment Tori appears, embarrassed to have intruded. When Cam asks her a question about conjugation, Tori admits she feels as though she is losing Zig, as he acts as though he is elsewhere whenever they're together. Thinking quickly, Maya tells her that she is merely overreacting, as he is dealing with exams and the Battle of the Bands. An oblivious Cam, a relieved Maya, and a reassured Tori return to their conjugation, but Maya remains uneasy. The next day, Zig is walking in the hallway studying chemistry when Maya catches up to him and tells him to stop whatever he is doing. Zig slyly asks why he should stop studying chemicals. Maya (calling him "dummy") refers to him being off around Tori. After relinquishing their cell phones for the exam, Maya reminds him that they agreed things would go back to normal and they have not. Zig points out that only she agreed to it, and their kiss is hard to forget. Maya says that she is with Cam and Tori is her best friend, but Zig cuts her off by implying that she was about to call him "the big, bad wolf". Maya tells him he doesn't have to be and makes him agree to be nice to Tori, who is sitting beside her, and they smile at each other.
Later at the Matlin house, Maya, Cam, and Tori are studying. Tori checks her phone and mentions that Zig has yet to text her back. Maya tells her that she talked to him, but she lies by saying nothing is wrong and he is simply busy. The doorbell rings and Katie (annoyed by Maya's command) answers it (and calls her a "lazy...ugh!"). When Zig walks in with a bag, awkwardness strikes. Maya does some quick thinking and tells Tori the he is there because she told him Tori was there" and Zig follows along with her deception. Maya sits next to Cam and Zig sits next to Tori. He gives Cam the bag and he opens it, revealing two bags of ketchup chips. Cam asks him why he only brought two, as his parents own a convenience store, and Zig says he had a "brain fart" and that he should have brought more. Zig then suggests they add harmonies to "Superman's Song". Maya says to see what Cam and Tori think. She turns on the song and she and Zig get up to get some drinks. Zig tells Maya that he was unaware of Cam and Tori's presence at her house and Maya sarcastically tells him that she feels better. She again insults his intelligence and tells him nothing can happen between them. He tells her that he is going to break up with Tori after exams and the Battle of the Bands. She is against the idea, but Zig reminds her that she wanted him to be nice to Tori, and it is not nice to make her think he still likes her.
Later on, Maya is walking down the hall with Katie, who reminds her that she has not drunk her yogurt, to which Maya replies that she is trying to avoid puking. Katie prepares to provide advice for stress on either the exams or the Battle of the Bands, but Maya’s true troubles lie elsewhere. When she makes exaggerations about the world coming to an end because of her, Katie calls her Chicken Little and asks what is going on Maya reminds her of how she temporarily dumped Cam and kissed Zig and then proceeds to tell her that Zig is going to dump Tori for her after the Battle of the Bands. She feels a need to stop him, but Katie tells her that Zig is actually right by being honest with Tori. Maya then feels the need to tell Cam about the kiss, but Katie tells her that what happened is in the past and that what she needs to do is focus on passing her exams, winning the Battle of the Bands, and drinking her yogurt. Katie then walks away feeling like she helped her sister, but Maya still feels uncertain.
In French class, Cam does some French conjugations and is the last of the entire class to pass the exam. Right then, the bell rings and the class departs. Tori wishs Maya luck at the competition. Maya and Cam are the last to leave, as Cam gives her a charm bracelet and says that she will receive one every time she plays a competition (it was his mother’s idea, but he picked it out). Feeling guilty, Maya says she has to be honest with him. Cam braces for impact and Maya that she kissed Zig during their breakup. Cam goes silent, cocks his mouth to the side, and momentarily averts his eyes. When Maya asks him to say something, he simply shrugs and says it sucks. He then coldly says “Good luck at your show,” and leaves her depressed as he walks out the door. Zig enters the door at rehearsal and complains that he had a hard time on his exams due to slope-related questions (which is precisely the one thing he did studied), which Imogen starts to make a silly pun about (“It’s a slippery slope!”), but he cuts her off at the last second saying "Don't. Just don't." She silently mouths "Okay," and heads to her drums. Maya then comes in after Adam, but when Zig asks her how her oral French exam went, she brushes it off and simply wants to rehearse.
At the Battle of the Bands, she proudly announces to her band that she would not rather share this even with anybody else. But things take a turn for the worse when a competing band called Ezra’s Pound starts playing "Superman's Song" (which Maya had suggested at the beginning of the episode). Maya demands to be told that she is hearing things, but Imogen tells it like it is: they stole their song. Zig can only say that they sound good as well. Things then go from bad to worse when Adam gets them disqualified for an act of violence. Back in the their tent, Maya is packing her instruments when Zig jokingly suggests that they go out onstage and play regardless of their debarment. Maya points out that security would stop them and Zig says that it would still be “pretty rock n’ roll”, making Maya laugh. It is short-lived, however, as Cam still has not answered her calls or texts begging for him to come to the competition. Zig reminds her that he is still planning to dump Tori afterwards. When he puts his hand on Maya’s, she becomes frustrated and tells him that she loves Cam and that nothing will happen. Zig asks her why they kissed if she loves Cam so much. Suddenly, someone clears their throat from behind, and when they turn to see who it is, they see it is Tori, who had brought them drinks to cheer them up for being
Zig continues to pressure Maya.
disqualified, and heard every word of their conversation. Zig can only remain silent in shame while Maya panics and begins to throw excuses to her, but Tori does not want to hear them. She throws the drinks on the ground in front of Maya and storms out of the tent in a huff. Maya and Zig share a look, but they do not follow her. Imogen then walks in, but when she sees the dumped drinks, she says “Man, I hate litterbugs!” in a whiny tone.
Mo and Adam follow her and deliver the news: WhisperHug is allowed to play, but Adam may not. Zig agrees to cover bass, but Maya volunteers to sing, as she wants to get a message out and hopes that Cam is there to hear. She also apologizes to Adam because he is still disqualified, but Adam brushes it off and leaves to take care of personal business while WhisperHug discuss their strategy. WhisperHug walks to the stage and performs “Up In Our Cloud”. Maya scans the crowd and finally spots Cam, who is smiling at her. After the performance, Maya is alone in the tent removing her earrings when Cam appears beside her and congratulates her on winning third place. Maya is prepared to return his bracelet, but he stops her and asks if she is still confused, but she confides that she only wants him. They kiss and he says that is a good thing because she is not going to get rid of him so easily.
In Bitter Sweet Symphony (1), It’s a new semester, but Cam’s hesitant about coming back to Degrassi after an amazing week at home. After Spirit Week starts, Cam and Maya find that they're on separate teams and that Zig is on a team with Maya which makes Cam jealous. At the first event (floor hockey), Cam elbows Zig in the eye and pushes him over, asking for a fight. Dallas and Maya try to stop Cam from attacking Zig more, and all four of them are sent to the principal's office. Maya tells the truth about the fight, and how it was no accident. Cam is suspended for the rest of the week and Maya leaves the room without saying a word to him. Cam has a breakdown and finds Alli saw it all. Alli gives Cam advice about how to win Maya back.
Maya is shown at home practicing her cello and Cam comes in with a huge bouquet of pink flowers. Maya thanks him and just as Cam is about to leave, Maya says that he could stay. They are shown cuddling on the couch while watching videos on Maya's phone. Maya shows Cam a stuffed animal from her night camp named Hoot, who always made her feel safe. Katie then comes in and tells Cam that it's time to leave and just as he's about to, Maya convinces Katie to let him stay over for a sleepover after Cam said he didn't want to go home. The next morning, Cam is gone and Maya watches a video Cam sent her that says that she will have to meet him at the stairs at lunch because he stole her stuffed animal, Hoot and she must retrieve him. She smiles and the scene ends. In the next scene, Cam is seen sitting on the stairs as Zig confronts him about hitting him. Zig says that Maya won't stay forgiving him for long, as she'll see what he really is - a psycho. He then proceeds to tell him that he will only hurt Maya in the end so he should get out of her life now and forever. Cam begins crying, upset about Zig's words, and Zig just scoffs and walks off. The next scene shows Maya looking for Cam at the stairs. She then gets a text from him saying that he can't make it, and "its over". Maya is shown upset. Later that night, Cam commits suicide in Degrassi's Greenhouse while holding Hoot.
Aftermath[]
In Bitter Sweet Symphony (2), On their way into school, Maya tells Katie that Cam "maybe text dumped" her, telling her that she called him several times and that he did not answer. Katie tells her that its not unusual for Cam to be acting weird, and advices Maya to focus on her National Young Musicians Orchestra audition, which she has later in the day, and to deal with Cam later. Dallas asks Maya if she has seen Cam, and Maya tells him that she thinks Cam is at home on his week-long suspension due to his fight with Zig. Then Dallas, Maya, and Katie notice that police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks are approaching the campus with sirens, and Maya asks what is going on.
Maya and Katie approach the vehicles, where they see Madame Jean-Aux. Maya asks Madame if she can skip first period in order to practice for her audition, but Madame does not reply; telling Maya that she and Katie need to go to the Principal's Office immediately. Upon their arrival, Maya does not know what is happening, joking that "whatever it is, I swear I didn't do it". Principal Archie tells Maya that Cam committed suicide in the greenhouse the previous night. Maya appears visibly shaken, but says that she wants to practice for her audition and leaves the office.
Later, Marisol asks Maya to speak at Cam's candlelight vigil. Maya says that she needs to go to her audition so she can't go to the vigil, but Katie tells Maya that she should speak at the vigil in order to deal with the shock of Cam's death and because the way that she is acting is not normal. Maya attempts to write her speech, but doesn't know what people say at vigils. She re-watches the playful video that Cam had sent her and smiles.
Meanwhile, Zig is seen leaning against the lockers looking very upset after finding out that Cam committed suicide. He feels guilty for what he said to Cam and tells Maya that he is the reason Cam killed himself, saying "I told Cam to get out of your life, so he did - its all my fault". Maya tells Zig that that is ridiculous, and starts to laugh.
Zig angrily asks her how she is laughing and she turns serious until interrupted by Marisol to begin the candle light vigil. He then watches her speech at the vigil trying to understand her point of view.
During her speech at the vigil, Maya says that the vigil is "so stupid" and that Cam doesn't deserve a candlelight vigil because it was his choice to commit suicide. She says that people shouldn't blame themselves or feel guilty because its no ones fault but Cam's and that Cam should have fought harder or found someone to help him. She says that she won't light any candles and that she won't cry. The next day, Maya tells Katie that she meant everything that she said at the vigil, and Katie gives Maya Hoot back, who was found with Cam. Towards the end of the day Maya takes out Hoot, smiles, and proceeds to class.
In Ray of Light (1), Cam is seen giving Maya a piggy-back ride and laughing in an old video taken before he died. Maya lies by telling Katie that she is feeling perfectly fine after Cam's death. Meanwhile, she seems to be avoiding Zig.
In Karma Police (1), Zig is in French class sitting next to Damon rather than Maya, Tori, and Tristan. The class is presenting oral project assigned by Madame Jean-Aux. It's Tori's turn to present and she says that if she could go back in time, she'd go back to before Cam committed suicide. This annoyed Zig so he expresses it, and calls Tori a drama queen in addition to reminding her she only knew him for three months, despite Tristan's retorts. Madame tells him that if he's so eager to speak he should present next. Zig said he'd go back to before the assignment existed, and walks out. Damon approaches Zig, tells him it's time for French, but Zig doesn't want to go; he suggests they both skip it. Zig then gets angry and says that he doesn't want to be in that class with "stupid Tori" and "stupid Tristan" talking about "stupid Cam", and then he grabs a trash barrel and dumps it over Madame's car, and he's contemplating about doing more, but Damon convinces him otherwise. Madame then comes out and gives them both detention. Zig and Damon finish cleaning up trash for Madame when she dismisses them, but requests to talk to Zig first. Zig tells her that he doesn't want to present his oral, and expresses his guilt over what he said to Cam. Madame reassures him it wasn't his fault, and suggests that he help set up an event for French with her. Zig decides he'll help her, and brings along Damon to help as well. Madame announces that her musical act cancelled on them, and Damon tells Zig that he should volunteer to cover for them, Zig agrees, he thinks that he owes it to her.
In Karma Police (2), Zig tries to make it up to Madame Jean-Aux by singing a French song, dedicated to her, not knowing its about two lovers. Zig gets laughed off the stage and runs into the hallway, where he is confronted by Madame. She tells him what the song is about and Zig apologizes then leaves. Damon catches him outside where he is crying. Zig tells him he could have ruined Madame's life, by that one mistake, like he did to Cam, or Maya, or Tori. He reminds Damon he tried to steal Cam's girlfriend while he was with Tori. "Maya begged me to stop, but of course I didn't listen.", he says while adding he keeps hurting the ones he cares about. Damon assures him that
Zig apologizes to the people he hurt in front of the whole French class.
Cam was ill and it wasn't his fault. Also, he tells him to apologize to his other friends instead of acting out to them. The next day, he asks Madame if he could present his time travel assignment. She says yes. At first, Zig says he would go back in time to before he dumps trash on Madame's car, but he then says he would go further back in time to before he came between his friends. He then apologizes to everyone who he has hurt. Later Zig is seen at lunch and he walks over and talks to Maya, Tori and Tristan after class and apologizes again. Before walking away, Maya invites Zig and Damon to be extras in Eli's zombie movie. He starts to recover from Cam's suicide after this point. In Zombie (1), Maya asks Zig on a date and Zig is unsure how Cam would feel about it. Maya makes a rude joke about asking Cam's approval, which is obviously impossible. Maya is still in denial about Cam's death, and she is
Maya copes in an unhealthy way.
taking her stress out by dressing slutty and becoming a huge flirt with Zig and new guy, Harry. She asks Katie if she is a bad person for not being depressed about Cam's death like everyone else is. Later, Maya is at a senior party, and Talia finds a picture of Cam on Maya's phone and Maya tells Talia and Harry on video that she never chose to be the girlfriend of the "dead guy", referring to Cam. In Zombie (2), At the audition, Maya introduces herself to the strict judges and sits down. Before she starts playing, she gets a rush of stress through her mind and takes a moment to look up at Cam. She takes a deep breath and starts playing her piece, most likely thinking about him while playing. Once she finishes, a judge tells her she did an amazing job. However, the orchestra has a policy where they keep an eye out on all the
Maya looks up and thinks of Cam before starting her audition.
contestants. The judge pulls out his laptop and opens the video of Maya kissing Harry, which she posted on her Face Range. Due to this video being released to the public, they give her a lecture and a unwelcome glare.
Later that day, Maya is sitting outside of Degrassi in the pouring rain. Zig gives her a disappointed look and begins to walk by her as she tells him not to go. They both say they don't want to fight, but end up arguing anyway. She apologizes for posting the video and says she took it down. They fight about her being with Harry which leads Zig to say "Maya, this isn't you" making Maya go off about people telling her who she should be. Then she tells him that even the orchestra wants an explanation or she won't get in. He tells her to tell the judges about Cam, but she says she doesn't want to play the "girlfriend of the dead guy" card. She then takes her cello and chucks it in the dumpster stating that she's quitting. She angrily storms off leaving Zig very worried. He fishes her cello out of the dumpster, knowing she is being irrational.
Later Maya and Harry are making out on the couch in Maya's living room. Maya is happy at first, but then pulls out as Harry continues to kiss her neck. She thinks for a moment, and remembers that she is now kissing a stranger in the same spot where she spent her last moments with Cam. She asks Harry if they're gonna watch movies or just kiss for the rest of the night, and Harry says we can do other things. He begins to take off his pants and Maya is worried and tells him she has never done this before. He tells her to just go with it and to trust him.
Katie and her mother then walk in the house as they got home from their shopping trip. Katie immediately screams "WHAT THE HELL" as she sees Maya on the couch and Harry with his pants unbuckled. Katie tells Harry to get out, so she can talk with Maya. Katie and her mother are extremely disappointed and worried. Katie asks why Maya was with the guy who she was making out with in her Face Range video, which makes her mother find out about it and how Maya snuck out to Drew's graduation party instead of practicing her cello. Maya remarks to them that it must be a thing for Matlin girls to get busy at the Torres house, referencing to the time when Katie had sex with Drew there. Katie is almost as furious as Maya at this point and tells her that this behavior is insane and not acceptable.
Maya finally breaks down about Cam.
Katie then tells Maya that hooking up with a random stranger is scary behavior and that she can't replace Cam. These words immediately hit home for Maya and she breaks down. She screams back "WHY NOT". She screams to her mother and sister about how Cam broke up with her by killing himself, and that she hates him. Maya begins to cry as she tells them that she feels like she will never be happy again and everyday it gets worse missing him. She then says how he never even said goodbye to her. Katie runs over to Maya and hugs her, as she continues to sob. Cam was Maya's first love, and she finally shows how much it is affecting her that he is gone. It is assumed that she begins to recover after she finally lets it all out. Maya is seen at school the next day writing an apology letter to the Youth Orchestra. Zig is sitting next to her and she also apologizes for treating him so badly. Maya is about to go "dumpster diving" to go take out her cello, because if her parents found out that she disposed it she would be dead. Zig reveals that he already took it out for her, showing that he really cares about Maya.
Maya resting her head on Zig's shoulder.
They then hold hands and Zig tells her saying no to her was hard since he really likes her. He also states he only wants them to be together when its what she wants too. However, Maya says she doesn't know when that will be. Zig admits that he is willing to wait for Maya to be ready. She then rests her head on his shoulder for a while. Zig walks away and both are left happy and content with the situation, since they have both found closure and are putting the rest in times hands.
Season 13[]
In Summertime, Tristan mentions to Miles and Zoë that Maya had two boys after her the previous school year, referring to Cam and Zig. However, when Miles asks what happened in the end of things, Maya quickly says, "Nothing!" and shoots Tristan a look. Tristan just glances down awkwardly before Zoë changes the subject.
Rivals Love Triangles[]
- Campbell-Tristan-Maya Love Triangle
- Zig-Tori-Maya Love Triangle
- Zig-Maya-Harry Love Triangle
- Zig-Maya-Miles Love Triangle
- Zoë-Zig-Maya Love Triangle
- Grace-Zig-Maya Love Triangle
Trivia[]
- As of Bitter Sweet Symphony (1), the love triangle is over as a result from Cam's death.
- Zig had a conflict with Cam due to this love triangle.
- Cam and Zig's first lines were spoken to Maya.
- Zig and Cam were both in a relationship with Maya.
- Other than this love triangle, all of the other love triangles that Cam and Zig were in involve Maya.
- Zig felt Cam's suicide was his fault, causing him great guilt.
- They were all members of the French Club.
- They were all friends with Tristan Milligan and Tori Santamaria
Timeline[]
- Love Triangle:
- Start Up: Doll Parts (2) (1223)
- Ended: Bitter Sweet Symphony (1) (1231)
- Reason: Cam broke up with Maya before committing suicide in the Degrassi greenhouse.
