A/N: I know this chapter's a bit short and also a bit on the filler side like the last one, but I did feel it was a bit necessary in explaining Jake as a character a bit more. I'm really trying not to make him a super perfect, flawless Gary-Stu. As for Cheryl, I'm still planning as to what I should do with her. I definitely know I'm going to explore her feelings and her own take on this situation, but since she's only seven, it'll take a bit more work.

Chapter Four: Arguments and Bullies

Jake was able to breathe easier with only his hands tied. However, he was still thinking of every solution possible on how to escape. Each solution had too many repercussions though and no matter what he tried, Jake was more than sure his mother, Cheryl and possibly his father would pay if he tried anything. For now, he would have to remain compliant with Jackson, gain his trust and when Jackson least expected it, he would strike.

Cheryl, in the mean time, had lost hope and was crying like the world was ending. And Jackson was getting annoyed.

"Jacob, can you stop her crying? It's getting on my nerves."

Jake angrily replied, "Well excuse Cheryl for being just a little upset that you kidnapped her!"

Jackson didn't respond. Jake smiled inside. He touched a nerve- his first little victory.

The next few moments were rather quiet after Cheryl stopped crying, and it began to bore Jackson. He had to stir up a conversation.

"So, Jacob, how are your friends, Kyle and Ashley, like?"

Jake's eyes widened with anger and shock. "How did you know them?"

"I did a little surveillance. Anything wrong with that?"

"Um, yeah, you were basically stalking me and my friends, you psycho," Jake retorted. If it weren't for the fact that Cheryl was in the car with him, Jake would've came up with a more colorful insult.

"Oh, Jacob, didn't your father teach you better than that?"

Enough was enough was enough for Jake. He rose up from his seat and tried to hurt Jackson in any way he could think of. However, his hands were tied behind his back, as were his feet, but it didn't matter to Jake. All he wanted was to hurt Jackson in every way possible.

"You have no right to talk about my dad or my mom, you bastard!" Jake yelled as he tried to bite Jackson. It felt somewhat degrading for Jake but it was the only choice he had.

Jackson kept swerving the car, trying to control the steering wheel and getting Jake off of himself. Cheryl was screaming as the car kept swerve. Finally, Jackson pulled to the side of the road and slammed Jake's head against the window. His hold on Jake's throat got tighter. Cheryl kept screaming at Jackson to let her brother go, but her tiny fists were mere nuisances.

"Know this, Jacob- if I didn't have to rely on your mother to make that call, then I would've chocked every ounce of air out of her lungs. Be grateful that I, in a way, created you. So unless you or your precious momma tries to play hero, you won't ever see each other again and the last sight you'll see is Cheryl watching you die. Do we have an understanding?"

Jake's vision got blurry and dark. His head throbbed from the lack of air, but he managed to muster enough energy to nod. Jackson's lips twisted into a triumphant smirk and he let go of Jake's neck. Jake coughed, struggling to breathe. From this moment, both Jake and Cheryl knew that Jackson would always win and there was no stopping him.

"Remember, Jacob, you owe me for that."

Jake then spat, "I don't fucking owe you anything."

At the age of seven years old, most children would've just been carefree and without a worry in the world. The only heartaches would've been things like scraped knees and ice cream falling off the cone and melting on the hot summer sidewalk after just one lick.

But for other children, childhood was a torturous time when bullies were involved. Jake sported a purple bruise on his left cheek where he had been punched by the playground bully known simply as Billy. Jake tried to defend another kid from Billy and that was when things got ugly when Billy and his goons shoved and puched Jake. Jake had retaliated against the abuse by kicking Billy between the legs as hard as he could before grabbing him by his hair and slamming his head against the wall.

Jake didn't face Ryan. "I guess it's too late to say I'm sorry, huh?"

Ryan looked down at him with a mixture of anger and sympathy. He then knelt down in front of Jake and said, "And who will you be apoligizing to? Me or that boy?" After seeing Jake's eyes beginning to shine with tears, Ryan's expression became gentler. "Look, Jake, I know it's not easy being bullied or seeing your friends being bullied, but you shouldn't stoop down to a bully's level. You have to be the stronger person. In fact, think of it like this- in the future, you'll be rich and popular, while the bullies are poor, miserable and they can't get good jobs. If you're the stronger one, then you will have already beaten them."

"I would do it again to the bullies! They deserve it!" Jake argued.

Ryan smiled. He was proud of Jake. He could handle life's hard knocks. He had no qualms with making sure the persecutors of the innocent got a taste of their own medicine. But it was still a bit early for Jake; not just yet.

And he was still grounded. "Well, Jake, just try to cool your jets a bit right now, okay?" Ryan asked, adoringly ruffling Jake's dark hair. Jake stopped scowling and smiled. He was the stronger person, just like his mom and dad.

A/N: Oh, Jakie, you messed up nut. As for his violent reaction to Jackson and the bully... Perhaps it was something he inherited from his dad? (laughs)