It rained for five days after Matthew drove me home that disastrous night.

Gloomy, chilly and downright miserable, the streets puddled up and the gutters gushed out rainwater in copious amounts, so much so that even my black rain boots became soaked from the inside out just from the overspray of water.

Glistening off the slick asphalt, the slush of muddy tires stirred up the stagnant spill off and splashed up the sidewalk where I clutched my umbrella tighter, wishing I'd worn more than a windbreaker over my workout clothes.

My fingers trembled as I nudged open the glass doors to the martial arts studio, the familiar scents filling my nose as I trudged up to the front desk after shaking my umbrella out and leaning it up against the coat rack at the entrance.

Leila noticed me immediately, her face lighting up with a sweet, excited smile and balancing out her otherwise badass exterior.

Clad in leather and chains, Leila was the someone who you needed to remain on the good side of, mostly due to the fact that she was openly vocal of the fact that she carried around curved blades in her thigh straps and a taser on each ankle. Don't even ask her about her open carry license, either, because she'd go off on a tangent about the different types of guns she preferred and why everyone needed to take a safety course even if they didn't ever want to own a gun.

We mostly stuck to Krav Maga and our past traumas, but I pitied the customer who started arguing with her over a Glock or Smith & Wesson.

"I think my eyes are playing tricks on me. That can't be my little Ellie in the flesh, can it?"

My face broke out into an ear-splitting grin, the kind of smile that hadn't graced my features in ages, not since I'd given the sport up for good so long ago.

"How long has it been, a lifetime?"

"Try a year and a half. I've missed you, Leila-Bug!"

She came up to me in the middle of the studio, mats spread out haphazardly along the edge of the mirrored walls for the upcoming beginner class I knew began in about thirty minutes.

"Let me look at you. Well, they've definitely been hiding the food from you. Look at you, you've lost weight! Your cheeks, your hips, I can see your bones, girl!"

"Yeah, well, I haven't really been able to define my muscles lately..."

"Well we are changing that right now. We are changing that right now, right? Because god help me if that brother of yours thinks that he can control you now at eighteen years old, a full adult, you can move in with me and we can-"

"Eli isn't controlling me, Leila. He's actually been pretty okay about everything, especially considering I might have wrecked a dirt bike the other day..."

Something that I hadn't stopped feeling guilty over, despite Phoebe reassuring me over and over again that it had already been paid for by an anonymous purchase, and I could only hope that Miller had come to his senses and done the right thing, though I had a feeling it was more Eli territory than a selfish seventeen year old kid.

"Well, you wouldn't have to be riding dirt bikes around in the dust if you just came back here and trained with me, again. I'm still hurt you didn't come to me for so long after-"

"I'm sorry, I really am, but I can't talk about all of that right now. I'm just here to watch the beginner class, maybe sit in? I can pay my tuition for the year in full, even though I'll probably only be able to attend twice a month. I'm starting college soon so my schedule will be pretty packed."

"If I told you once then I've told you a thousand times- these classes are free for you."

"I will not let you not take my money. Besides, it's Eli's anyway, and he kind of owes you for the cop situation."

"You know what? You're right, he definitely owes me. We almost got shut down for that mess, and we weren't even the ones who started it!"

I spent the next few moments catching up with Leila and then there was an influx of students, most young women in their late teens to early twenties, but scattered amongst them were some older adult women around the same age as Leila, crow's feet and healed scars painting their skin.

It wasn't hard to see the emotional scars, either, not when I carried the same ones.

We spent the majority of the time talking, stretching and learning (re-learning, for me) the basics of self defense. The importance of pepper spray. The way to exude confidence and the tools we could use to deter attackers.

1. Don't wear your hair in a ponytail if it's long-it's easier to grab this way.

2. Always have a large purse or bag or umbrella to carry with you as it doubles as a weapon.

3. Never talk on your cell phone or look down to text when walking out to your car alone, instead, look forward straight ahead with your chin held high and a confident stride showing that you are not afraid or an easy target.

4. Use a special app on your phone when walking anywhere alone or where you might be in possible danger, and make sure your emergency numbers are programmed into it.

5. A high pitched alarm trigger on your keychain is always a good deterrent.

6. Don't wear headphones in your ears when running, and when possible, run with a partner.

7. Always make sure at least one loved one has your location at all times, and if you're going somewhere alone, establish specific times to check in with them.

8. The buddy system, especially at parties, is gospel.

9. No drinks from strangers, opened or unopened, and bonus points if you have the nail polish that doubles as a roofie detector.

10. Learn to defend yourself from an attacker.

We were on number ten and learning maneuvers to help someone escape a backwards choke hold when time ran out. I turned to thank Leila for the great class when a flash of movement caught my eye from the window, and one of the women pointed at him and asked if any of us knew him.

He was tall and lanky, a scraggly white beard covering most of his face and the rest of him was obscured by the sheets of rain coming down in a thick pattern.

As if the man knew he were being watched, he quickly turned on his heel and left, but there was something familiar about his gait, the stature of the man reminding me of a time best left forgotten.

And then Eli called my phone, but I didn't answer at first as I was saying goodbye to the women I'd met as well as Leila, and I didn't want him to know that I was back to the studio.

Eli didn't stop, though. He kept calling, and calling, and calling...

I was about to answer if he called one more time until V's number popped up and I answered on the first ring.

"Elodie, I need you to get back home right now, there's something we need to talk about."

"Oh, okay. What's wrong?"

Her voice shook as she attempted to keep her composure.

"I'd rather not say over the phone, it's just important that you come home, now. Did you figure out your car situation with your friend yet?"

"No, my car is still a few hours away at the dirt bike track, but I can grab a taxi or-"

"Just stay there, I'll have Eli come get you or I can grab my car."

I heard Eli saying something but it was muffled over the speakerphone.

"Is he in Midtown right now? It's pouring down rain, Eli. Tell him to pick her up on his way over since he'll be staying over to help with her moving in anyway. No she is not taking the subway in this weather! Thank you. Okay Elodie, Matthew is coming to pick you up, but I think he's in a rideshare, so just watch the door for him to pull up and we'll talk when you get here."

I barely had time to think 'what the hell' when Matthew's uber pulled up and a red umbrella appeared out of the top of the window.

"And that's my ride."