Just twenty years old, Lisa was born into a family turmoiled by drama. Her father had several run-ins with law, mainly caused by his excessive drinking and this only fueled his temper at local pubs. After her served several months in prison for manslaughter, young Lisa Michaels learned early in her life, father was not a stable figure. Her mother often worked double shifts at the hospital and Lisa learned to take care of her younger sibling Annette. Annette was only two years younger, but Lisa learned to play the adult role and provide for her.
By the time Lisa was fifteen, she took the meaning of independence to a whole new level. Boys were paying attention to her and the adults at school often took exception with this. Lisa's personality turned from the protecting sister to a rebellious adolescent looking to set herself apart from the rest of the world. Annette in the meantime, was turning turning seventeen soon and driven. She was popular, had many friends and active in sports. Lisa was not. Annette was never home anymore and needed Lisa less and less.
No longer needed by Annette, Lisa pursued the full meaning of mischief. She was looking forward to turning twenty-one next year but that didn't stop her from drinking. Just the year before she discovered how easy it was to get access to alcohol. Any boy knows if a girl wants to have a few drinks, he better produce alcohol for their encounter. After all, it improved their chances of getting in the girls pants. And Lisa was well aware of this.
Just a few months earlier Lisa was drunk just enough to garner the courage for her first tattoo. The first would be on her backside and the second would be on her ankle. Her mother was furious and but her father held is temper. The only time he displayed annoyance with her was when he was drinking. He had to be careful because one more slip-up with the law and his second stint in prison won't be for a few months; it would be multiple years. Lisa used this as leverage. She could do what ever she wanted and it excited her to see how far she could push it. She was inculpable.
Money usually wasn't an issue. She was independent and took a job at a local tobacco store. Thirty hours a week wasn't enough to buy a car, but it was enough to buy beer, tequila, cigarettes, fast food and gas money. She usually caught a ride from her best friend Kathleen Consigilio, a former high-school wannabe troublemaker. Kathleen worked at the grocery store as a cashier in the plaza where Lisa worked. The plaza consisted of a pizza shop, eye-glass store, beer distributer, grocery store, SubWay and Karl's Tabacco shop where Lisa worked.
One Sunday evening Kathleen called Lisa to say her Uncle died over the weekend and her parents were making her fly to Tennessee for the week. This posed a problem for Lisa. Her mom worked the night shift at the hospital and wouldn't be home until at least 9:30 in the morning. She wasn't about to ask her father for a ride either. Lisa looked through her cell phone for her co-workers number, Darren. Her address book didn't have his last name, she never bothered to ask.
"Hey it's Lisa."
"Oh yeah, what's up?" Daren replied.
"Hey. Any chance I can bum a ride with you this week? I'll pay you gas money."
"Sure. Trouble with your car?"
Lisa wasn't in the mood for small talk. It was embarrassing enough she had to ask for a ride. Darren knew very well she didn't have a car. He would often watch from the window when Kathleen would drop her off. She played the game and explained what her situation was.
"Oh man. That sucks. Yeah, I can pick you up. Don't worry about the gas money. You can pay me back later."
"I don't like owing money" Lisa said. She continued "I have gas money so it's no problem. I'll give you twenty for the week if that's okay?"