The Best Regret [BxBxB+]

FOURTEEN | RECONNECTING

Three years later.

Locking the door behind him, Elias got home safely from the heavy snowstorm. "I'm home," Elias mumbled, hanging his car keys on a tiny hanger on a wall beside the door.

"Elias!" A female voice was heard, and Elias smiled slightly at the view of a woman holding a baby. "Hey, you two." Elias smiled, walking to hug the two girls. Elias lives in Tennessee with his sister, Aurora, and her baby, Millie.

"How was strolling around the small town? Did you see anything you like?" Aurora, known as Arrie, asked. Elias just moved in about a couple of weeks ago. He couldn't stand his parents anymore; it got abusive mentally and emotionally, so he moved in with his sister, whom he reconnected with about two years ago.

His parents didn't like Aurora and kicked her out when she was only 16 years old. Elias was 10. So, he reconnected with her and is very happy to have a supportive family member.

"Yeah... I got to see something I've wanted for a while." Elias acknowledged. He kissed his Niece on the forehead and walked to the living room.

"Was it... the boys?" Arrie wondered, putting Millie on her stomach for some tummy time. The baby babbled, grabbing the small toys in front of her. Elias smiled and stared at Millie. "I went by their house... only to see a for sale sign. The cars were there, though. I didn't expect Taylor to sell the place. It was so... nostalgic."

Arrie frowned and sat down beside Elias, hugging him. Elias frowned, hugging his sister back. "Why don't you knock on the door?" Arrie pulled away, looking at Elias. The boy sighed and tilted his head in thought. "I don't have the guts. I shouldn't have left in the first place. I wasn't a minor, so I had a choice. I was self-sabotaging." Elias confessed, tears forming in his eyes.

Aurora smiled lightly. "You love them. And I'm sure they love you."

"Loved. They loved me. I'm not there anymore." Elias corrected, earning a scoff from Arrie. "Elias. Listen to yourself. They love you. They cried for you." Arrie crossed her arms. Elias looked down at his feet and smiled. Yeah, they did cry for me. But how could he knock on the door?

"I'm going to make dinner. Care to change Millie's diaper for me?" Arrie asked, earning a big blowout fart from Millie. Elias gagged but nodded. He'll do that for his Neice.

After eating dinner, Elias went into his room and plopped down on his bed. He opened his phone and went onto Instagram, stalking Jayden's feed.

Elias smiled, liked the post without thought, and put his phone down. His eyes shut, and he fell into a dark abyss.

Jayden was packing up his room when he got a notification. When he opened his Instagram, he saw the username, 'Elisiareyes,' and liked his post but didn't follow him. He dropped the other things in his hands, and his eyes widened. "Elias?" He breathed.

Jayden ran out of his room to find Taylor making out with Cole in the living room. "Taylor, Cole!" Jayden was breathless, huffing from running down the stairs. Taylor and Cole looked at Jayden with confused and worried faces. "What's wrong, Jay?" Cole worried, getting off Taylors' lap. Taylor also got up, wanting to know why Jayden was so frantic.

"E-El-" Jayden tried to answer but couldn't, still trying to catch his breath. The pounding of his heart wasn't helping either. "Deep breaths, Jayden."

"Elias liked my post on Instagram."

There was silence for a moment, but Cole's face shot up in a big smile. "Elias liked your post. Are you serious?" He laughed happily. Cole also had a smile on his face. "So, he didn't forget us after all," Taylor mumbled, hugging Jayden tightly. Jayden smiled into the hug and wondered what to do next.

"Should I text him?" Jayden asked, with a severe look on his face. He shoved his weight on one leg, debating what to do. "Text him." A voice came from the hallway. It was Liam. Ever since Elias left, he's been seriously depressed. Not even a smile came from his face when he heard Elias's name. Jayden's head turned and nodded.

Jayden

Elias, we've missed you so much.

How are you doing?

"I texted him. Now we wait." Jayden confirmed. The boys smiled and patted their hands for Jayden and Liam to sit. "Now we wait for the rest of the boys to return from our new home so we can tell them," Taylor said, sitting with his boys.

Elias woke up with a couple of notifications on his phone. He opened his messages on Instagram and saw that Jayden texted him. But why? Why did Jayden text him out of the blue? Elias's eyes widened when he remembered that he accidentally liked his post. "Oh shit..." Elias smiled. Mixed emotions ran through his body, and hesitantly, he opened the DM.

Elias read the DM and smiled brightly.

Elias

Hi! I missed you all bunches. I've been okay.

Not the best, but you know. How are you all?

Jayden

We're okay. Liam, otherwise, is depressed.

Since you left us, he's been in his room often.

He's improving since I told the boys you liked my post.

Elias was startled when he saw that Jayden was calling on Instagram messages. Hovering over the answer button, he answered. "You look different." Jayden smiled into the phone. Elias blushed, covering his face. Yeah, he does look different. He has an undercut, pierced ears and eyebrows, and tattoos.

"Yeah... I guess I do," Elias said sheepishly. There was commotion, and for a few seconds, Elias wondered what was happening. Jayden's camera turned to see Taylor and Liam cuddling, sleeping. "Oh, those two. They're so cute." Elias smiled, staring at the screen. "Yeah... I just woke up a minute ago." He replied, the camera still facing the two sleeping.

They talked for a minute, and then Elias heard groaning and shuffling. "Who are you talking to?" Elias heard Liam mumble. Jayden looked towards the boy and smiled, showing Elias, who was on the screen. "Woah, Elias! You look so different! Even more sexy!" Liam exclaimed, covering his mouth and blushed.

"Elias." Taylor woke up, grabbing Jayden's phone. "Where are you right now? You're not at home." Taylor bluntly asked. Elias hesitated. "How do you know?" Elias asked. He put his phone down so they could see him and started picking at his nails. "You act like I don't have cameras, Elias. I saw you stop by yesterday."

"What? Since when were you going to tell us that?" Jayden asked, and Taylor hushed him. "I was going to but didn't want to right away." Elias was caught red-handed. He blushed in embarrassment and chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you saw that. I live just 40 minutes away. With my sister, her husband, and their baby."

"Come see us. I want to talk."