Lyla Garrity is a bubbly, popular cheerleader and the girlfriend of Jason Street, the star quarterback of the Dillon High School Panthers high school football team. Her fate, as it happens, takes a severe turn when Street suffers a life-threatening injury on the field that results in him being paralyzed in the lower half of his body. She initially tries to stick with him, hoping that a cure will be found that will heal him, but eventually realizes that isn't going to happen. Subsequently, she makes some decisions and does some things that will alter her perception of herself and others' perceptions of her in the community. Lyla tries to rectify her image of herself in her own particular way.Lyla is also the oldest daughter of Panthers booster Buddy Garrity and is the apple of his eye. Buddy will do anything to care for his daughter and see to it she has everything she wants and needs in life. Still, his affair with Angela Collette, which leads to him divorcing his wife and Lyla's mother Pam, adds to the stress she's facing in her life. Buddy also makes some poor financial decisions that could have an impact on Lyla's future.