One Dream, One Comeback

Indianapolis

Jacob and Nick pull up to a house. It's Jacob's old house. He grabs a set of 3 keys and turns the car off
"Come on," He says "It's time to learn about some things."

Jacob climbs out and opens the door for Nick. He walks up the stairs and puts the key in but doesn't turn it

"What's wrong?" Nick asks

"This was my great-grandparents' house. If I didn't make it big, this is where I would've lived. My whole life banked off my first race in K&N. When I won my debut people thought it was luck. I went to the next race at Salem and won. People knew I was going to become the real deal, and well. You see how I am. I turned down deals from Red Horse and Hattori, people said I was stupid for it. When Kyle called me, my faith rested in this decision. I hopped on it and now look at where we are. Anyways, let's go. I can't keep putting this off."

He turns the key and walks in. He starts to wave.... but then he remembered. He walks into the kitchen. The house is dead silent beside Nick and Jacob walking. Jacob remembers the past and how active the house was during the holidays. Now it's just... there, silence. He opens the downstairs door and walks to the basement. He sees things from his childhood. The 1:64 cars he played with still in the same condition as 2004. The things that changed since he made it big wasn't much. There was still some things from his early K&N days and his time at the Speedrome just down the street. Everything his great-grandparents kept from his rookie seasons was amazing. From helmets to firesuits. Any kind of Jacob Rose history you would find in this house. He looks at some empty sections on the shelf. They were marked with 6 different spots for helmets. First Trucks start. First Truck win. First Xfinity start. First Xfinity win. First Cup start. First Cup win. He sets his bag down. He takes out his CWTS helmet sitting it between the first start and first Truck win. Then he takes his Menard's, Microsoft helmet from Iowa and sets it between the Xfinity first start and win. All he needs to do is start in MENCS and win.  Rumors floated around Kyle Busch Motorsports opening a Cup team for one race with Rose driving at Watkins Glen. Rose wanted them to be true badly just so he can prove that he is the real deal. Of course, he would have to miss another Truck race for it. The Cup Series has always been the top idea for Jacob. They also said that IMS was a potential idea. The hometown kid winning. He wanted that more than the Glen. The thought of them being at IMS for a win.... just.... it won't happen. He walked back up the stairs to see media knocking at the door

"What the actual hell," Jacob says "I want a week back here to not have media on my ass every day. Let's sneak out the back and get to the car."

Nick and Jacob run around the back and to his car. They drive off before the media notices. They drive to K1 Speed, the place that he got noticed. Kyle Larson was racing at K1 Speed as a way to waste time for the weekend. Jacob happened to go at the same time and outdrove a rookie, Larson. He called Chip Ganassi and he signed him to his K&N team. Chip was just about to make a #42 truck when Kyle Busch called. People didn't expect the move, he did a reverse Larson. Larson went from Toyota to CGR after he didn't have enough sponsors. They arrive at K1, Jacob is known there by everyone. He goes ahead and goes to the kart as they don't even say anything about paying. He hops into the 18 kart. People thought it wasn't the actual Jacob Rose until he started knocking at the door of records he set before his switch to the CWTS, people realized who it was. When he climbed out of the kart, that's when the mobs of fans started. Everyone there realized who it was, the fact he was getting noticed overwhelmed him. He signed autographs for everyone who wanted one. He then climbed back into a kart, when he was a rookie in K&N he set his record time at K1, 3 years later he breaks the record his close friend Dakoda Armstrong set. During the time he was running laps, memories of his past filled his head. From when he was a freshman in High School and dated Nick for the first time. To hiding him being pansexual from everyone so he could keep his ride out of fear. To when he won his first career race at IRP in K&N. He grew up in the moment, he knew if someone were to out him about his sexuality, it would all come crashing down in a second. The fear, the panic, the worry, It drove him to run the hell out of every car he got so when he said something about his sexuality he would already be safe and sound at the top of the mountain. When Kyle Busch said he wasn't going to release him after what he said at Gateway, Jacob had a huge sigh of relief. Now that he has a safe ride at KBM, he's extremely open about his relationship, making statements regarding Nick, even letting him chill in his car to kissing him before races and during practice sessions. When he parks the kart he climbs out and leaves. He climbs into the car and sets his head down onto Nick. Nick pats his head as Jacob starts to fall asleep, all the stress and racing has made him exhausted almost every day. He leans his head more on Nick's shoulder before he looked up

"Hey babe" Jacob said

"Hey" Nick replied 

Jacob sits up and yawns

"Hey, wanna head back to my house here?"

"Sure!" Nick agrees  

Jacob types the address in and leans his seat back

"Why are you going to sleep, I thought you were gonna stay awake?"

"I've lost all of my energy for right now, I mean... I can stay awake. I'd likely act like a gay drunk."

"I've already seen that side of you, remember the night that I"

"Stop!" Jacob says fast

"Come on, you know you loved that."

"I... I can't argue, it was amazing."

"Anyways, do we have a Monster or something to drink here, I'm so tired."

"Practice for the Rolex 24, you have the road course experience they are going to snap you up likely."

"Fair point." Jacob says as starts to zone out

 Jacob started to think, all the enjoyment and excitement Nick provides him... maybe he should marry him, they stayed loyal throughout their relationships. He decided that when he wins soon, he'll propose to him. He decided to drive the hell out of the truck at Kentucky, it's close to home and it'll be a great moment. 

"Jacob, hey." Nick says

Jacob snaps out of his blank stare 

"Hey, sorry I was thinking."

"About what?"

"You'll find out soon," Jacob says with a smirk
"You're gonna love it."

(The chapter in Indy is over, I should mention that Rose at this point is only 18 while Nick is 19, irl this would be about the time of our 4 year anniversary and our first year of college. If you read the chapter soon Nick, <3 I love you, babe.)