I frowned, trying to figure out what exactly he was saying. He wasn't going to report me to the children's home, so that made me feel safer. I didn't want or need them in my business. There was already a curfew that I hated; I didn't want any more restrictions put on me. Because I'd only break them and get into even more trouble. I wouldn't, couldn't listen to them. They were not my parents.

But if they weren't the solution to the apparent problem of me, what was Jake thinking?

"What, like... trailing me?" I honestly didn't think that was what he meant, but it was my best guess. "I don't get it."