"Degrassi: The Next Generation": Riley Has a Crush!

Friday night's episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation saw the return of Riley Stavros (Argiris Karras), the closeted gay jock who has had some serious issues not just in coming to terms with being gay, but managing an anger management problem. Think of him as Canada's Aaron from Emmerdale. Both are guys that tend to throw punches that get them in hot water.

Speaking of which, the episode opens with Riley, seemingly not controlling that infamous temper as we see him and his friend Peter go round and round in a circle apparently about to come to blows. Fortunately, Riley gets his temper under control and as the camera pulls back — fake out!

PETER: Way to not punch me out, Riley!

Peter and Riley weren't fighting. This was an exercise in anger control and Riley passed. Yay, Riley.

It's a good thing too, as Riley is going to find his anger tested a number of times this episode. But first Riley has to do a video interview as the girls of Degrassi High have voted him Most Eligible Bachelor and they want to know more about this man of mystery. Awkward! While Riley is out to Peter, no one else at school knows, Riley wants to keep it that way and this makes for a less than revealing interview. 

And it doesn't help that  the Riley is noticing a hottie in the background.

To help Riley with his anger issues, he's also taking yoga which is where he next encounters said hottie who turns out to be named Zane. Clearly smitten, they exchange a few words after their class.

ZANE: See you next time, Riley.
RILEY: See you next time, Zane. Good luck on the biology final.

... which translates to ...

ZANE: I totally saw you checking me out during Warrior Pose II. And you're cute, too. Ask me out!
RILEY: OMG OMG! He's so hot! But is he worth coming out for? What to do? What to do?

Riley must be really smitten because after yoga class he comes out to his friend Anya. Much to his relief she not only doesn't freak out, but she's all excited for him, plus she figures out he's got the hots for Zane. When Riley says he doesn't know whether Zane is even gay or not, she is a good queer peer and susses out that Zane does play for Team Mo.