Ashlyn and Maddox

And I have feelings for you. I have every feeling for you. And my... my biggest fear is that if we tried this, if we actually went for it, that... I might lose the most incredible friendship I have. I feel like... I feel like I don't deserve to be as happy as you make me. You are the scariest, most beautiful person I've ever met.

## Ashlyn and Maddox

### Characters

Maddox
 Ashlyn Caswell

### Kind of pairing

RomanticFirst love (on Ashlyn's side)

Enemies to Lovers (On Ashlyn's side)

Feel first/Feel harder

Love at first sight (On Maddox's side)

### Status

Cabin-mates (Season 3)
 Friends
 Dating ( Born to Be Brave

## Information

### Portrayed by

Saylor Bell Curda
 Julia Lester

### Rivals

Ashlyn and Big Red
 Ashlyn and Val
 Maddox and Madison

**Madlyn** is the friendship/romantic pairing between **Mad**dox and Ash**lyn** Caswell. They are portrayed by Saylor Bell Curda and Julia Lester.

## History

In Happy Campers, Ashlyn Caswell and Maddox first met on Ashlyn's first day at Camp Shallow Lake. Later that night Ashlyn runs into Maddox and gives her a letter and tells her about her plans to write to Big Red every day. Then Maddox makes a remark about how people with relationships outside of the camp don't often keep in contact with them as much as they wanted to.

Throughout season 3, Maddox picks up that Ashlyn is queer and tries to encourage her to make this realization.

In Camp Prom, EJ asks Maddox if any of the new girls have caught her eye over the summer as Ashlyn walks by and Maddox stares at her.

In Let It Go, a month later after camp is over at the premiere for *Frozen: The Musical: The Documentary* trailer hints that Maddox has a crush on Ashlyn when she is seen looking at her when Ashlyn is laughing at something during the Color War.

In High School Musical 4 and HSM v. HSM, Maddox and Ashlyn are texting non-stop and giving each other relationship advice.

In A Star is Reborn, Ricky surprises the rest of the drama club by bringing Maddox and Jet to East High. Maddox and Ashlyn are happy to see each other but they are awkward in front of each other as they both have crushes on each other.

In Trick or Treat, Ashlyn dresses up as "Hot Eleanor Roosevelt" and Maddox recognizes her costume instantly. Upon seeing Maddox in her Xu Xialing from Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings costume, she exclaims "WOW!! You look great!!" Before embarrassingly saying "Was I yelling?".

Maddox pranks the drama kids at Gina's party by pretending to be electrocuted to get back at them for ruining The Woman in the Woods from camp. After seeing her fall over after being shocked, Ashlyn runs over to Maddox saying "I'll do mouth-to-mouth. AS A FRIEND!!", and is visibly upset from the prank as she was worried about Maddox.

After the party, Ashlyn is seen writing a song. Maddox approaches her and asks about it and Ashlyn reveals that Emmy asked her to write a love song for Chad and Taylor in High School Musical 3. Ashlyn is having trouble with the counter-melody, so the two sing the song, Call it What You Want, together. At the end of the song, they almost kiss, but are interrupted when someone climbs in through the window.

In Admissions, Ashlyn and Big Red break up, so Ashlyn calls Maddox to tell her she likes her but is discouraged when Maddox's ex-girlfriend Maddison answers the phone.

In Trust the Process, starts as each member of the drama club is describing why they missed rehearsal the previous day. Carlos reveals that Ashlyn and Big Red broke up, and Maddox responds "Wait, so you're single again?", confirming that she likes Ashlyn back.

In Night of Nights, Maddox is preparing to tell Ashlyn how she feels but is distracted when Maddison sends her balloons, and when she overhears Ashlyn and Big Red pretending to be back together to get rid of Antoine.

In Born to be Brave, Maddox and Jet are talking in the hallway about Maddison and the balloons and letter that she sent Maddox, and about how she thinks Ashlyn and Big Red are back together. Jet tells Maddox to read the letter out loud as he notices Ashlyn walking past. Maddox reads the letter and it says that Maddison thinks Maddox should give the balloons to Ashlyn, saying "The way you talk about her is the way people talk about someone when they're falling for them". Ashlyn hears this and declares that she isn't back with Big Red and that she has feelings for Maddox. Ashlyn gives Maddox a piece of a tree from the camp at Shallow Lake that says "Ash ❤️ Gadget" on it, which Ashlyn reveals EJ carved as he predicted the two of them would end up together. The two consider staying friends but decide they want to be more than that and they kiss. Carlos walks in on them and exclaims "I'm so happy for you two! This is so endgame."

As it is revealed that Gina and Maddox will be moving to New Zealand for a few months to shoot Quinn's Romeo and Juliet movie, Ashlyn is upset at the prospect of her new girlfriend moving away. Ultimately, Gina makes Quinn keep the filming in Salt Lake City so they don't have to move away.

Maddox and Ashlyn sing to each other in both Love You Forever and Born to Be Brave during the credits.

## Quotes

Maddox: She's like an emotional terrorist. I mean, what am I supposed to do with these balloons?

Ashlyn: Read the card.

Maddox: Why? So Madison can ruin the rest of my night? Which is already at an all-time worst night category after learning that Ashlyn is back together with Big Red. ( Sighs )

Ashlyn: Read the card. Out loud.

Maddox: "Maddie, these balloons aren't for you. Give them to Ashlyn tonight. The way you talk about her is the way people talk about someone when they're falling for them. Love always, Madison." ( Exhales ) What's that? Miss Jenn? You need me on stage?

Ashlyn: I'm not back together with Big Red. But... And I have feelings for you. I have every feeling for you. And my... My biggest fear is that if we tried this, if we actually went for it, that... ( Sighs ) I might lose the most incredible friendship I have.

Maddox: What is this?

Ashlyn: Just open it. Oh, God, I hope you don't hate this.

Maddox: "Ash Hearts Gadget?"

Ashlyn: It was carved into a tree behind the bunks at Shallow Lake.

Maddox: Wait. You've had these feelings since back at camp?

Ashlyn: No, EJ did this. He predicted we'd end up together. I feel like... I feel like I don't deserve to be as happy as you make me. You are the scariest, most beautiful person I've ever met.

Maddox: That is exactly how I feel about you.

Ashlyn: Should we just, like, I don't know, like, stay friends?

Maddox: Yeah.

Ashlyn: Yeah.

Maddox: No, it's, um... ( Clears throat ) It's probably safer that way.

Ashlyn: Yeah. That's what I was thinking.

Maddox: Uh-huh.

## Shippers

* E.J. Caswell
* Dewey Wood
* Saylor Bell Curda’s sister Piper Curda
* Ilana Wolpert (Julia Lester's girlfriend and one of the writers)

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/pipercurda/status/1689432847835176960