Author's Note: This is the edited and revised version of the prologue. I didn't change it too much because I think it went pretty well even the first time. Hope you all enjoy and please tell me your thoughts!

Disclaimer: I do not own Cyberchase…only the plot of this story.

This story is dedicated to my friends, who I love with all my heart. :)

Always

-Prologue-

Inez swept her silky hair behind her ears and smiled slightly. Jackie sat at her feet carefully painting Inez's toenails dark scarlet. Jackie's own nails were a deep purple, having been meticulously painted by Inez. Books that had easily been neglected and bottles of nail polish were scattered around them. Jackie's bedroom was light and cheery, with large windows and bright lights. Fashion magazines were stacked on the nightstand beside Jackie's large bed. It was Friday afternoon, and the sunshine streamed through the windows.

The door flew open and a boy came in, an orange backpack slung over his shoulder. "Hey!" Matt said, surveying the scene around him. "Your mom said you were studying." He glared accusingly at Jackie and plopped down next to them.

"We were." Jackie finished with Inez's toenails and began to paint her fingernails. "We're just taking a small break. Hand me that bottle, Matt." Jackie grinned, letting him know that their "break" had been going on for quite a while.

Matt studied the countless number of bottles on the floor, colors ranging from metallic silver to bright periwinkle. "And which one would that be?"

Jackie rolled her eyes as if it had been completely obvious and pointed to a small bottle of clear liquid that had been lying next to Matt's foot. "That one."

"What's with the nails?" Matt asked, speaking to Jackie but looking at Inez. For such a practical person, she could be dreamy sometimes and was now staring off into space. She jolted back to reality at the question. "I just thought it'd be fun." Inez said, inspecting her still slightly wet nails. "Thanks, Jacks." She normally wasn't nearly as girly as Jackie (who was obsessed with nails, fashion, and hair) but that didn't mean she didn't like doing such things.

"No problem." Jackie swept up all the bottles and poured them into a plastic box. She sighed as she picked up the box and placed it on her dresser. "Another reason to keep from studying is gone", she said sadly.

"Do my nails look all right?" Inez asked Matt, holding out her hands to him and letting him look at them. He laughed slightly at the look on her face, the slight pout that betrayed the fact that she wanted a nice compliment.

"They look amazing." Jackie called from her dresser, where she was combing her hair. She sighed slightly before tying up her hair with her scrunchie once more. Jackie carefully moved aside all the clutter on her dresser before beginning to organize it. Though she was naturally a messy person, she could never seem to stay messy and the nagging urge to clean up was often too great. She chuckled slightly at her own quirk before her breath caught. Her fingers brushed across a photo that she hadn't even realized was lost. The Cybersquad grinned from the photo, along with Slider and Dr. Marbles.

She felt a twinge of guilt at the thought that she hadn't realized that it was gone before reassuring herself that it was only because she had so many pictures of the Cybersquad. Indeed, they were almost like a second family. Jackie lifted it up to inspect it closer before smirking widely when she realized Matt and Inez were right next to each other, Matt's arm casually slung around Inez. Apparently Matt had done something to annoy Inez (perhaps call her "Nezzie") for in the photo Inez was sticking her tongue out at Matt while he was smiling, clearly pleased at his success in his quest to irritate her.

Jackie shook her head at the two of them (in the photo). They were such children sometimes. It was kind of funny how Inez could get so riled up from just a simple comment from Matt, when usually she was the epitome of calmness (as opposed to Jackie's over-dramatic personality).

"Nah, they're really ugly." Matt's teasing voice cut into her thoughts and she turned sharply before realizing that they were still discussing Inez's nails.

Jackie silently berated herself and placed down the photo. How strange that she had become completely absorbed in her thoughts. Then again, she mused, it's not that surprising when you consider who was in the photo. She felt butterflies erupt in the pit of her stomach at the thought of that special brunette boy. Still, she quickly shook them away and resumed her task of cleaning up the area on her dresser.

Inez shoved him. "You're such a jerk!" Her face contorted into an exasperated grimace which made Matt laugh.

"I'm just kidding! They look beautiful. Happy?" He elbowed her and she squirmed away, though there was still amusement hidden in her eyes.

"Good. Then they'll make me look beautiful." Inez laughed and got up to fetch her bag from on top of Jackie's bed.

Nobody seemed to pay attention to Matt, whose dark blue eyes had softened as he watched Inez rummage in her bag for her notebook. He leaned back slightly and let out an inaudible sigh, his face now tender as he took in the complete sight of her. Dark hair somewhat messy, glasses slipping down her nose, and eyebrows furrowed in concentration…it definitely wasn't the description of any supermodel or famous actress, and yet…

"You always look beautiful," Matt murmured so quietly that Inez couldn't hear. "Always."