That went so far beyond a crush very early on.
MTE. I think the worst was in Simple Ways whem Spike was all sarcastic and seething because Rarity was into that fashion stallion.
I saw so many people say stuff like "Spike deserves her!", "Rarity is evil for friendzoning a Good Guy lile Spike", "this episode is dedicated to all friendzoned Nice Guys out there. Stay strong muh brothers!!" Ugh... the fact that someone wrote Spike to be pissed off an adult is crushing on an adult... someone in the writers room was projecting.
Spike and Gabby have a really cute friendship! And yet some people
Spoiler
still pestered the writers why Rarity wasn't dating adult Spike in the last episode.