This Is Why I Hate You Too

18. Patterns, Patterns, Patterns

"What—oh, yeah, he used to call me 'booty'."

Ivy and Andrew stopped the recording, laughing at what they just heard. "Shut the fuck up," Ivy wheezed. "He did not. ." She fell off her chair as she laughed, while Andrew was howling at how ridiculous that sounded.

"What the fuck?" Ivy cackled. "He used to call her 'booty'?!"

"Oh, God!" Ashley exclaimed, bursting into laughter.

"Why did he call you that?" Matt shrieked. "I had to read his journal twice—why?!"

"I don't know!" Rachel cried out. "I'm not even that thick anyway! He also said I called him Arty, right?"

"He—he did say that. Anyway, enough of this. Ivy, you can start recording again."

So Ivy started recording again.

"Miss Norman, Arthur Lindfelt attacked a senior airman, Darren Austin, gouging his eye out," Matt continued, "on your behalf after he made remarks about having sex with you. Didn't he?"

"No, he did not," Rachel responded. "Arthur's five-foot-ten ass would've never stood a chance; Darren is six-five!"

"Is it true Mr. Lindfelt tried to threaten another airman, Brian Asher?"

"Brian terrified him, so no."

"Did Mr. Lindfelt tell you that his late father allegedly molested him in his childhood?"

"He did tell me that. He told Corey that as well, but considering he's lied about Ashley, Corey and me, I don't think that happened. I could've just asked his family after we quit, but. . . I just ended up taking his journal after his 'death'. I met Ashley two months after the fact. If I could describe any of what happened back there with one word. . . I wouldn't even know the right one."

*********************

Ivy, Andrew and Matt slumped their backs over their chairs, waiting for their next guests. Ashley on the other hand was busy talking to Corey and Rachel.

"Matt?" Andrew uttered.

"Yeah?" Matt replied.

"How long do we have to wait for this girl?"

"She lives in Texas; that's a four hour flight to here."

Andrew let out a groan. "God damn it—"

The door opened, cutting him off. Everyone turned to who had just entered—a girl draped under a black leather jacket adorned with pins came in. A crimson beret sat atop her head of black hair. She took off her round-rimmed sunglasses to reveal her brown eyes.

"Why does she dress like you?" Rachel asked, whispering.

"I dunno," Ashley replied, whispering as well. "Former Tumblr girls are a dime a dozen."

"So you're Ana Cassava?" Matt said to the girl.

"Yes." She nodded her head. "Hey there, Corey and Rachel."

Rachel went up to Ana and hugged her. Ana met the two femmes when they all served in the Air Force in Texas, and despite them growing distant after Rachel and Corey quit, Ana still kept in touch with Rachel, but not Corey; Corey blocked everyone who had anything to do with her military service on Twitter and Instagram, after all.

"Wait, oh my God—Ashley from Briar Rose?" Ana noticed Ashley and shook her hands profusely. "I'm like—obsessed with you two. You're here to testify against Arthur too?"

"I already did," Ashley replied.

"Miss Cassava?" Matt motioned to the seat in front of him.

"Oh—excuse me." Ana sat across the table from Matt, who gestured at Ivy and Andrew to start recording.