AN: thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews! It makes me so happy you like it. I am working on chapter five tomorrow. I plan on updating my other fics first. Happy Reading!

Also thank you to those who responded to my question about the blog. Yes, it would be my opinions on life and advice, just like on here. So, if you haven't given your opinion on of you would read Just Sayin' as a real blog, please feel free to do so.

Chapter 4

Four

I am at Divergent working out, but my focus is off today. I keep replaying the events of last night in my head. Not to mention a certain pair of blue eyes keep interrupting my thoughts. I finish with weights and head over to the speed bag. I begin working through my punches with Amar calling out tips from the side. My phone dings and I lose my rhythm momentarily stepping back as the bag slaps me in the face.

"What the hell was that? Focus!" Amar growls at me. I shake my head and step back into position ignoring him.

I continue to punch, but my form is sloppy. After a few more. Minutes he stops me. I grab my water bottle and towel from the side. Wiping my face as he walks up.

"What is up with you today? It's not-" Amar starts, but I cut him off.

"No. It's not him. I just have a lot on my. Ind right now with the club and all." I say bluntly, letting him know I don't want to talk about it. My phone dings again and I look over at my bag. He huffs in frustration.

"Well? Answer it already. Maybe then you will be able to focus." He says annoyed.

I give him a glare to let him know I don't appreciate being treated like a child. He just glares back at me with his arms crossed and looks back at the bag. I go over and pull my phone out. I have two missed messages from Tris.

Morning, handsome.

Had a great time last night. - Tris

I try to hide my smile, but I can't. Just the thought of her makes me smile. Stop it Four. She is just your friend. She would never want to date you. I quickly text her back.

Morning Beautiful. Working out. Call you later? - Four

Get it, handsome. - Tris

I lock my phone and put it on silent so that I can focus. I turn around to see that Amar has been watching me the whole time. He smirks at me as I walk back over to the speed bag. "What?" I say flatly.

"Its a girl. You are distracted by a girl. This is a first." Amar says, his annoyance fading into amusement.

"She is just a friend. Nothing more." I say. "I thought it was about the club. I turned it off now."

"I've known you a long time now, Four, and I have never seen you smile like that." He says.

"You are seeing things." I say getting more annoyed by the second. I reposition myself and go at the bag again. This time harder than before, taking out my annoyance. Amar continues to watch as I finish my workout. I don't know why his bringing up Tris irritates me the way it does. I finish with the body bags and gather up my things to head to the shower. Amar comes over from where he had been working with a couple of guys on the mats.

"Way to bring it at the end today. If I'd known all you needed was some girl I would have gotten you one years ago." He laughs.

I tighten my fists at this. The way he talks about Tris, like she is some random hook up angers me. She is way better than all those girls that throw themselves at me at fights or the ones that flirt with me at the club. I fight to keep my face even and my tone level as I answer him. "She is not some girl. And I already told you, she is just a friend."

Amar holds his hands up in surrender to let me know he meant no harm, but I don't care. I will not tolerate anyone talking about Tris that way. I make my way to the shower letting the water wash over me trying to shake the feeling that I have no right to be this protective about her. She is just a friend. But last night, I felt like there was something more between us. Every time I touched her, it felt like electricity was coursing through me. Looking at her was like waking up. When we were dancing I could swear that she felt it too, but I kept reminding myself that it was probably all in my head.

Page Break

I pull up to the coffee shop where we had coffee last week. I see Tris through the window. She is wearing spandex shorts and the straps of her hot link sports bra are visible under the straps of her black tank top. Her hair is in a messy bun and stray hairs are tucked behind her ears. Her glasses are sliding down her nose and she pushes them up, shifting on the couch she is sitting on, tucking her legs underneath her. She has her laptop perched on the table in front of her and a wireless keyboard is balanced on her knees as she types away. I tap on the window and she jumps. She turns around and smiles widely at me reaching forward and holding up the coffee she has already ordered me. I enter the shop and throw myself down on the couch beside her, exhausted after this morning's workout and a couple hours paying bills and booking bands at the club.

"Hey," I say taking my coffee from her and sipping it. "What is Bea Belle working on today?"

She glares at me for calling her that. She told me she likes to keep her true identity a secret. I smirk at her. She is so cute when I push her buttons. So cute? Who am I? It's like I'm a different person around her. She is just your friend.

"Actually, I'm working on my blog right now. But you could help me with my article if you want. I am having a hard time answering one of my readers." She says.

"I'll make a deal with you. You finally tell me what blog you write and I will help you." I answer grinning at her. She has been refusing to tell me the name of her blog all week. She says that I have to figure it out myself, but it don't know how I'm going to do that if she won't even give me a clue about it.

"Uh, uh." She says taking a drink of her iced coffee and shaking her head. "I don't need your help that bad."

I shrug my shoulders and look bored, "Your loss, beautiful. I give great advice."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Yeah, ok." She says sarcastically and I laugh at her, coffee dribbling down my chin.

"See what you made me do? I don't know why I put up with you." I say taking a napkin and wiping my face.

"Because I'm the coolest person you know. You would be sad and lonely without me." She smirks.

"Can't argue with that." I say.

"Well that's a first. Now, shut up so I can finish my work." She grins playfully slapping me on the arm as she turns her attention back to the screen, putting on her earbuds.

I lean forward to take my laptop out of my bag on the floor, making an exaggerated attempt to see what she is working on. She groans in frustration and turns the screen out of view. Smiling and shaking her head at me her eyes never leaving the screen. I give a small chuckle and open my laptop. Randomly searching the net, checking scores and the stats of other fighters. I have a match coming up in a week in Austin. I need to check out the other fighters. I do for a few minutes when I see that I have received an email. My favorite blog just updated. I take a break for a moment and can see that Tris is still working.

I get up and go to refresh my drink taking her empty cup as well. I order two bagels for us and wait. Thankfully there is a guy working today. So, no awkward moments with the girl that was here last time. I turn and watch Tris while I wait. She doesn't notice me watching and takes a peek at my screen to see what I was reading. She grins and then goes back to her work. I can see her singing along with whatever is playing on her headphones. So damn gorgeous.

The guy hands me our stuff and I go to pay him. As he finishes ringing me up he says, "That's one hot girlfriend you've got there. All the guys here have a huge crush on her. They are going to be so disappointed when I tell them I finally met mystery man."

I just look at him stunned for a moment. Mystery man? What the hell? Is she seeing someone and hasn't told me? He must take this the wrong way because he immediately backtracks.

"Look man, I meant no disrespect." He says.

"Um ok, thanks. I guess." Is all I can say.

I head back over to Tris and place our coffees on the table. She looks up at me and furrows her brow. She takes out her head phones and turns so that she is facing me. "You ok? What was all that about?" She asks more curious than concerned.

"Oh...um," I start not really knowing what to say without her getting mad. It's not like I denied it. "He said I have a really hot girlfriend and that all the guys here were going to be disappointed because he finally got to meet mystery man." I look at her waiting for her reaction when she does the most unexpected thing. She laughs. Not a little laugh, but a full on, can't breath, tears streaming down her face laugh.

I just stare at her confused by this reaction. Is the idea of us together really that funny to her? I must look a little hurt because she grabs my arm and tries to calm herself. When she has finally calmed down enough to speak she moves her hand to my cheek and I suddenly feel like my whole body is on fire. She stares into my eyes smiling gently at me. The tension between us palpable at least to me. It is the same tension that filled the air during our hug good bye last night.

"Please don't take it like that. It has nothing to do with you. That guy has been trying to flirt with me since I found this place a year ago. And the fact that he thinks a handsome fella like yourself would ever go for me is a bit funny. I mean I'm not even pretty." She says looking down at that last part. I don't know what to say. How can she think she is not pretty?

"Oh," I say. Way to blow it, Four.

"I know pretty funny right?" She says looking up at me and laughing silently to herself again. She leans back into the corner of the couch and I relax a little too. We both sit there in silence eating our bagels and sipping our drinks. It isn't uncomfortable. It is actually nice. I finish my bagel and wipe the crumbs from my mouth with a napkin. I look down at my laptop and it reminds me about the upcoming fight in Austin.

"So my first major UFC match is in Austin next week. You wouldn't want to go would you? Will is going and I know you have friends there." I don't look at her not wanting to see her face when she turns me down.

"I would love to!" She says sitting up a little. I look up at her and can't help but smile. I notice a glob of cream cheese smeared on the side of her mouth. I reach up and wipe it off with my thumb, my fingers skimming under her chin as I do. I can swear she shivers when I touch her, but I know I had to have imagined it. After all, she just laughed at the idea of us being together.

"Well the fights are on Friday night. I am going down with Amar on Thursday." I say.

"I have to be there next week anyway for work. I have meetings starting Wednesday, so I will already be there." She says. "How will I get into the fights, don't I need tickets or something?"

"I get spectator passes and floor passes. I can get those for you. If you have any friends that want to come let me or Will know, we will get it all set up." I say smiling that she will be there.

"Ok. It sounds like fun. We can be your fan club. I can even get my friend that covers sports to come if you want." She says.

"You would do that for me?" I say, a little shocked. No one has ever done anything like that for me. Hell, no one has ever even seen me fight besides Amar, my fraternity brothers and Amar's wife Zoey.

"Of course, handsome. I'm your number one fan. Makes perfect since I should head up your fan club." She grins.

"Thanks, beautiful. You're amazing, you know that?" I say, grinning back her.

She blushes and shakes her head again at me, "Nah. Now, what were you reading when you got told how hot your girlfriend was?"

"Huh?" I ask. She moves and takes my laptop off the table, placing it in my lap and leaning against my side so that she can see the screen too. I wrap my arm around her so that we are more comfortable. I can't help but notice how perfectly she fits against me. Like she was made to be by my side. She taps the touch pad to wake up the computer, while leaning her head against my chest. The screen pops up and I see my favorite blog.

"Read it to me?" She says, closing her eyes and snuggling closer. I feel like my heart is going to explode out of my chest, but at the same time happy and relaxed with her body warm and soft against mine. It is something I have never felt before.

"Um ok." I say. I tilt the screen to give myself a better view with one hand and begin to idly stroke her arm with the other. She sighs slightly at my touch and I can't help but smile as I begin to read. Everything about this moment is perfect. Her, this, all of it. Perfect.

Just Sayin' by Thoughts on Paper

Just Friends

Friend is an interesting word. According to Webster's Dictionary, a friend is a person whom someone knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations. According to Urban Dictionary, a friend is anyone who is aware of how ridiculous or dorky you are and still manages to be seen with you in public, or anyone that accepts your request on Facebook.

So according to one definition I have a handful of friends and according to another I have 457. And what's with this exclusive of sexual relations bullshit? Haven't we all been taught or whole lives how the best relationships grow from friendship? How the hell am I supposed to know if we are meant to be if we can't have a sexual relationship? Are we just supposed to hold hands and stare into each other's eyes? Is this 6th grade? Come on. Give me a break.

Which brings me to my next point, how do you tell if someone is just your friend. That answer is so complicated they made an entire TV series out of it, more than one actually. Reality TV, sitcoms and even National Geographic has covered that topic exclusively. I'm not here to give you some speech on how friends don't peer pressure you, they accept you, and blah, blah, blah. I'll leave that to your parents, your church, your elementary teachers, public service ads, the list goes on. What I would like to focus on today is "the Friend Zone".

It's like the Twilight Zone of relationships. A perpetual relationship Purgatory from which very few escape. Hotel California if you will. You can check in but you can never leave. Or can you? That depends on what type of friendship you have. We have all seen He's Just Not That Into You. We laughed as several couples tried to find their way through this zone, with only one of them coming out on top. The couple that it was obvious to everyone but them how attracted to each other they were. Just like Ross and Rachel, Penny and Lenard, there are subtle signs along the way. I'm not here to give you those signs. Read them yourself. I not Dr. Phil.

Don't get me wrong, those signs are hard to read. Everything gets in their way, especially you and your own fucked up mind. Yes, you. But there is hope for you my friend. You have some options. You can slow down and pay attention. For details on how to do this, I refer to the movie Hitch. For details on how to be a player or a dirty slut, I refer you to anything on Cinemax after midnight. Now for the rest of you, all I can say is good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor, because the world of love is essentially the Hunger Games and Suzanne Collins said it best when she said "love is weird".

My advice, screw all of it. You are better off with your sanity, dignity, and heart in one piece than touching any of it with a ten foot pole. Come to think of it, Facebook is a safer option. At least there, I have 457 people who like everything I do and say. Till next time, your friend...or am I? Depends on your definition, I guess.

I look down and see that Tris is asleep on my chest. Her mouth is slightly parted causing a stray hair to sway in time with her gentle breaths. I can't help but think that she was right. She isn't pretty. That word is too small. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I close my laptop and stroke her hair away from her face with my free hand. I close my eyes and pull her closer to me, relishing the feeling of her relaxed and safe in my arms. I can't help but feel a slight pain in my chest when I think about our relationship. Friends, we are just friends. But, I wish it was so much more.