Chapter Nine: Do You Want Me (Dead?)

"Do you want me, or do you want me dead?"

Everyone is packed into Will's car. Luckily, I'm not driving; I'm squished in between Danny and Arthur. I don't know which is worse.

"Okay, who's elbowing my boob?" I ask loudly.

Arthur clears his throat and the elbow is removed. I can't help but laugh.

Will parks in the lot and starts going on a rant about how much parking for an hour is. Everyone rolls their eyes and exits the car.

Danny and I walk with everyone as far as we are able to. Danny and Will start to say goodbye as Arthur comes over to me. He smiles warmly. "Hi," I say softly.

"Hi," he says back with a smile.

I hug him. "Be safe," I tell him.

"I will," he assures, kissing my head.

I nod. He's the best at what he does, or so I've been told. That only makes me feel a little better.

"I really wish I could kiss you right now," he whispers in my ear.

"Who's not letting you?" I ask.

"I haven't told Ariadne yet," he confessed.

"Oh," I say, pulling away from him. "I have to go say goodbye to Will. Don't want to make it look too suspicious." I feel Arthur's stare on my back, but I pay no attention to it.

I walk over to Will and throw my arms around him. He sighs. "What's wrong, love?"

"Oh, nothing," I answer. "But, I swear to God, if you get yourself killed I will bring you back from hell just so I can kill you myself," I tell Will seriously.

"Who said I'm going to hell?" Will asks, hugging me tighter, if possible.

"Who said you're not?" I ask back with a smile. My smile fades as I see an aggravating sight over Will's shoulder.

Ariadne. And Arthur. Hugging.

Noticing how I stiffened, Will releases me and examines me. "What's wrong?" he asks, following my stare.

And just as his eyes meet their designated target, Arthur completely shatters me into tiny pieces across the airport lobby. He kisses Ariadne.

I pull away from William and whisper, "Bye, Willy."

"Kat! Katherine!" he calls before he realizes there's really no point in it.

The doors open before me as I practically run out, trying to find a cab to hail.

"Katie," a different, stupid, voice calls.

"Stay away from me," I choke out.

"Let me explain," he calmly suggests.

"Explain? What the hell is there for you to explain? You don't kiss someone after you've broken up with them!"

"But I wasn't—"

"You weren't what? You weren't breaking up with her?" I bitterly laugh. "You better bloody stay away from me," I add when he comes closer.

He grasps my hand. "Katie, please…"

I pull my hand away. "You are one mental bloke, Arthur," I say, my accent becoming prominent, like it always does when I'm angry. I turn and hail a cab. One eventually stops. "Goodbye, Arthur. I really hope you do not get someone killed because of this," I say with so much bitter in my voice, I surprise even myself. I have one foot into the car and I look up at him, trying to at least hide my tears until he's gone. "And Arthur?"

"Yes Katie?" he answers, his voice barely loud enough to hear.

"Be careful," I say, the bitterness completely erased from my voice. "Be happy," I add.

I get into the cab and shut the door on Arthur, not really caring what he could possibly have to say. I tell the cab driver Will's address. While they're gone, I've been ordered to stay at Will's with Danny as my bodyguard. It's extremely annoying, but at least I'll be safe from whatever Will thinks may or may not be there to hurt me. I open the door and find Danny waiting for me upstairs. Who called him? Will or Arthur?

"Arthur called me," is the first thing out of Danny's mouth. I guess that answers that question.

"Of course he did," I answer, climbing the stairs to "my" room.

"Kat…"

"Please, Danny, just let me be."

Danny takes out his phone, types in a few things and hands me the phone. I press it to my ear and enter my room, knowing exactly who it is.

"Katie…You walked away from me. I know you saw my kiss with Ariadne, but I swear on your mother's grave she kissed me to try to get me and her back together and to break us up. I chose you, but it's obvious now that you didn't choose me back. So I'll take your advice. I'll be happy. I'll be happy with Ariadne. And I won't make any mistakes on this job and I'll make sure you're precious brother gets back alive because I'm sure he's the only person on this team who you actually care about. So have fun without me, Katherine. I'm done."

"End of new voice messages," the automatic voice says. I erase the message and slide Danny's phone out the bottom of my door.

I sit on the ground and stare at my hands. I never imagined that Arthur's voice could be so beautifully bitter. So bitter, talking to me. So bitter, because I hurt him. I didn't listen, I was too stubborn. God, when will I ever stop pushing people away? I push him away because I can't lose him like Tommy, but I pushed him away too far and now I can't grab him again.

What have I done?

A/N: YAY PART ONE'S DONE! ! Part Two shall be up soon, lovelies! Tonight, I'm going to try to finish up to chapter four in it... I wanted to (again) thank my reviewers/alerters/favoriters! I lovelovelove you guys. Remember, I don't own Inception...or the All Time Low quotes at the beginning of each chapter! ): review since it's the end of part one?(: