Ashlyn Quinby rode in her brothers moderately expensive car towards his modest house, in which she would be staying for two weeks to celebrate his birthday.

Reagan Quinby was talking to himself as he drove, trying to rough draft a schedule of the next two weeks.

"So today I've got my half day, I'm gonna make sure Ash gets settled... Yeah. Then, after work I gotta pick up Dani and drop her off since she is having her friends over tonight so she won't be coming to dinner so I can hang out with Ash. Then tomorrow I've got to work all day and then it's Saturday so I can show Ash around... Oh, shoot but Danica is coming over Friday night. Ugh. I'll have to cancel. Maybe she can come over on Sunday? No, that was the day I was gonna plan my party with Ash- ugh. I need paper."
He ran a hand through his hair and looked over at his sister, squinting in thought then looking at the road again.

Ashlyn looked over at Reagan and frowned, tilting her head.
When he stopped at a red light she got his attention and signed,

"I've got the party planned out, you don't need to worry. And you can show me around when you have free time. Also I can cook for you."

She smiled proudly, and her brother looked relieved.

"Thanks kid. I'll try not to take advantage of that... too much. But I've gotta warn you, my girlfriend is very... Demanding sometimes. Well, no, most of the time. If I gotta cancel something with you, I'm real sorry." He pursed his lips, doing his best to look towards her so she could read his lips while keeping his eyes on the road.

As they pulled up to his house, she signed once again,

"It's fine. We have two weeks. I can't hog you." Ash smiled widely, just glad that she could see her brother at all.
Her mom was very clingy, ever since Reagan moved out, she had been. She rarely let Ash go anywhere. And it didn't help that she was deaf. It only gave their mother more reason to hold onto the seventeen-year-old even tighter.

Reagan smiled his crooked smile and reached over, kissing the top of his sisters head then getting out of the car and going around to get her bags for her.

Just as they got into the house, though, Danica called Reagan.
He sighed and unlocked the door for Ashlyn, then stepped back to answer the call.

"Hey sweetheart. Need something?"

"Why do you always ask if I need something? I'm not helpless, you know." Her smooth- but irritating because of the words coming out- voice coming out of the speaker louder than Reagan expected. He grimaced and pulled the phone away a bit.
"But I need you to come pick me up in about twenty minutes and take me to Bed, Bath and Beyond then home."

"Alr-" he began to try to answer.

"Oh and on Friday, I'm going to have to cancel. Rebecca is going to take me and the girls to this real posh spa and massage place with this charcoal and ash-infused mud facial and mud bath, it's supposed to be the greatest thing since cucumbers reducing puffiness. Anyway-"

"Yes, I can pick you up and take you shopping." Reagan chuckled, shaking his head but frowning. Though he was extremely relieved that Friday was being canceled.
"No issue for Friday being cancelled, too. My sister is in town for a couple weeks and she wants me to show her around."

"Perfect! See you in twenty, Ray Ray."

Reagan hung up and did a little dance in his relief.