Abby: Grew up as an only child. She was mostly raised by her mother, until she passed away when Abby was 20. Her father had transferred to Bowling Green, KY when GM moved their Corvette plant back in the early 1980s. Although absent from her daily life, her dad was always there for her and she would visit him quite often. While being raised by a single mother, her childhood was far from picture perfect. Unbeknownst to Abby, her mother suffered from manic depressive disorder. As a result, she engaged in a long relationship with a physically and verbally abusive man. Abby took solace in her friendships and longed to be a part of a “normal” family. She first met Kyla in the 3rd grade, while attending a Catholic school for a brief moment in her life. When she went back to a Public school in 4th grade, she met Emily, Liz, Colbie, and Elle. It wasn’t until Jr High school when she met up with Carly. Although close through Jr High, once they went to High School and College, they grew apart. Until one day, when Abby was leaving her therapist’s office, there sat Kyla in the waiting room. It was a wonderful surprise for Abby! Kyla then proceeded to invite her to Emily’s upcoming New Year’s Eve party. It was at that party she reunited with the LYLAS girls and they have been inseparable ever since! Abby has a MBA and is an Accountant. She’s married to Michael, a Sheet Metal Worker, and they have a son, Liam, who will soon be turning 1.
Carly: Grew up in a fairly normal suburban house with one younger brother and two (what seemed to be) happily married parents. Her parents divorced after she graduated from college which was to be the start of her ever changing and very nontraditional family life. Carly met Emily in kindergarten and rivaled for a mutual best friend. Emily and Carly begrudgingly decided their senior year of high school, since neither knew anyone going away to that particular college, that they would room together. Neither knew that decision would be the start of a very strong and lasting friendship that would lead to several other great friendships. Emily brought Kyla to room with her and Carly their sophomore year. Carly and Kyla had some tough times living together, but through college and their 20's, remain very close to this day. Along with Emily, Carly also went to high school with Liz, Elle, Abigail, and Colbie, but it wasn't until later in her adult life and through the push of Emily, that she formed a stronger friendship with each of these four girls. Carly lives with her boyfriend D and they have his two kids, Ryan and Addison every other weekend. Carly got her bachelors degree in Graphic Design and a minor in marketing/promotions and currently works as a Art Director for a local ad agency.
Colbie: Colbie grew up with her mother, stepfather (only technically speaking, dad!!), and two brothers with special needs. Around age 20, she reunited with her stepmom, biological dad, and two half sisters. She met Liz and Elle in kindergarten and Emily in first grade. Kyla and Abby joined the gang in later elementary, then Carly in high school. Colbie attended a local university earning a Special Education degree, followed by a Master's in Counseling, and Applied Behavior Analysis certification. She married at age 23, and divorced after 5 years. At her 10-year high school reunion, she met up with an old friend, Harry, and married him 2 years later. (She almost didn't attend the reunion, due to her impending divorce. Her lovely girlfriends encouraged her to go anyway, and she's so glad she listened!!) Colbie works as an elementary special education teacher, and Harry is an accountant. Colbie and Harry have one son, Emerson, who recently turned 1. They plan to expand their family very soon!!
Elle: Sarcastic, Domestic, Dark, Caring, Funny, Defensive, Insecure, Soul-Searching, Creative, Athletic
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Emily: Grew up in a small house 20 minutes away from civilization. She lived with her mom and dad, and her much older sister (9 years older). Both of Emily's parents are still alive and married, though both have battled cancer. Her dad had a kidney removed when diagnosed with kidney cancer, and this past summer her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. In July of 2010 her mother had a mastectomy. Emily met Carly in Kindergarten while her mother taught Kindergarten to Elle, Liz, and Colbie at another school. In first grade, she changed schools and her mother introduced her to Elle, Liz, and Colbie. Later, Kyla and Abby also came to this elementary and all the girls became friends. Senior year of high school, Emily decided on a college and it happened to be the same one Carly was going to, so they roomed together and Sophmore year of college Kyla joined them. Emily met her husband Keith while in college. She graduated with a degree in Teaching-Elementary Education. Her husband graduated with a Drafting degree, but after only a few years went back to school for his teaching degree, and now teaches high school math. Emily and Keith have two children, Nicole (age 5) and William (age 2).
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Kyla: Independent, Hard Working, Successful, Insecure, Single, Generous, Dependable, Neurotic, Perfectionist, Sexual
Liz: Grew up in a big house with 2 older brothers. Her dad ran a successful excavating company but died when she was 11, leaving her with a busy mom who had to run an excavating business, be a realtor, and single mother of three. Elle's family and Liz's family were friends long before they were born. Elle's mom babysat Liz, and Emily's mom was Liz's kindergarten teacher. In kindergarten Liz met Colbie, and in the following years she met Emily, Abby, Kyla and Carly. During college got accepted to an internship that would have put her in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 - luckily budget cuts ended the internship program before she even started! Liz has a masters degree in Instructional Design and works as a designer. She is married to a pilot turned stockbroker and together they have a young daughter who Elle sometimes babysits.
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Disclaimer: In order to protect the privacy of our friends and families, and allow us the freedom to share with you our true thoughts and feelings without getting fired from our jobs, or causing too many people to hate us, we have changed our names and the locations of our stories. Everything else is pretty much true.
