LEAP YEAR

CHAPTER 1

Harry walks through the cold morning air of Boston in his favourite Gucci loafers. The wilted brown leaves laying on the ground in beauty and the cold breeze hitting his face makes a smile appear on his face. He is wearing a simple black button up shirt and black jeans along with his office bag.

He reaches the building with the address given to him yesterday by his client. He sees the familiar bubble wrapped furnitures kept neatly near the entrance of the building with 2 loading men nearby and walks to them.

"Morning, gentlemen." He greets them once he reaches near them and slightly slaps the guy's leg which was perched on the bubble wrapped teapoy. "Feet"

He goes into the building and takes the elevator while opening his phone to check the apartment number. Once he reaches the apartment a well suited man greets him with a firm handshake.

"So happy you're here, Mr. Styles. This is the third open house and not one bite"

Harry nods his head in reply and goes inside to inspect the unfurnished apartment. "Well..." He looks back at the guy with a confident smile. "Don't worry. I have everything under control."

———

He gets the moving men to arrange the couch, TV, Dining table,teapoy and some other random chairs as per his instructions. He decorates the place with cupboards and lays beautiful carpets on the floor. Patterned cushions and pillows are kept at appropriate positions. Finally, he places a flower pot on the corner of the room with red and white daisies, at the same time the suited man returns to the flat.

"Wow" he says assessing the change of the room. Harry turns to him and gives him a gentle smile. He then goes into the kitchen, to get a pack of 'Bake and Serve' cookies from the fridge. "With a bit of luck, we might get some offers." He says to Harry.

"Come on, Charlie. You know it's not about luck. It's about preparation." He hands the cookie pack to Charlie. "Put these in the oven half an hour before you open and you will have five offers before noon." He pats his chest two times. "No luck needed."

———

Harry and his boyfriend, Jeremy, were seated in the two chairs put opposite the couch, where the 3 aged interviewers of The Davenport Cooperative Apartments were sitting. They were going through the application forms filled by both Harry and Jeremy.

The man seated in the middle of both women looks up at Harry. "Harry, you are a realtor?" The statement he read from his application sounded more like a question from him.

Harry shakes his head slightly with a slight smile. "I'm a stager. I stage apartments for realtors. I transform ordinary spaces into something special. Most people don't know what it is they want until I show it to them, and so many places need my help."

"Oh!" The man nods in reply.

"Not the Davenport, of course." Harry adds.

"As I'm sure you're aware, apartments at the Davenport don't come up very often, and we have more than our share of applicants. So, why you?" The woman at his right side asks him.

"I have lived in Boston my entire life, that is, after I shifted from Cheshire, and I have always dreamed of living here." He looks to his left where Jeremy is sitting near and places his left hand on top his and smiles at him. "And thankfully, I have found somebody who shares that dream, and I can assure you that you will not find two people more in sync with your exceptionally high standards and, if I may be so bold, your taste."

The woman smiles at him impresed by his answer. "Thank you."

Jeremy places his other hand on top of Harry's and gives a slight squeeze.

———

Jeremy and Harry stands outside the building, which they just came out from after the interview.

"Okay, say it with me. Three bedrooms." Jeremy says to Harry.

"Three bedrooms."

"Concierge."

"Concierge."

"Full gym and swimming pool looking over the common. I mean come on!" Jeremy exclaims with hand motions.

"Don't get cocky." Harry says placing a hand on his arm.

"Why, you don't think they like us?" Jeremy questions confused.

"I like us. Don't you like us?"

"We're okay." Jeremy shrugs at him. "All right. Okay." He steps from besides Harry to take his phone out to take a picture of him and stands in front of him. "Here we go. Ready? Aaaand.." Harry poses with his hands in front of him with his bag hanging from one arm, while Jeremy clicks the picture. "Ugly." Jeremy comments looking at the phone.

"Excuse me?" Harry fakes a hurt expression placing his hand on his chest which makes Jeremy laugh.

"Not you sweetie. It's Mr. Sheinbaum emailing me updates of his double bypass." He says moving back to Harry's side to show his phone, to which Harry make a puking sound.

"I'm glad I skipped lunch." Harry says skimming through his bag for his phone.

"No no no, this is good. This is good, because this way I don't have to go in. We can go to dinner." Jeremy says looking at his phone.

"Ah, studio apartment, two offers already." Harry says with a cocky smile reading the message from his phone.

"That's cause you're a genius."

"Have you packed yet? Your flight is at eleven."

"I'm fine, just you don't be late." Jeremy replies to Harry, both walking side by side reading and replying messages on their phones. "We've got an 8 o'clock rez and they are strict."

"When am I ever late?" Harry asks looking at the new notification he got.

"When your dad comes out of the woodwork demanding to see his son, that's when."

Harry raises his head from his phone to look at Jeremy. "I have to go, Jer. I haven't seen him in weeks."

Jeremy looks up from his phone to smile at him. "Okay, just wouldn't want you all riled up for our very special dinner."

"You know I don't like surprises." Harry says with squinted eyes at Jeremy.

"You'll like this one." Jeremy leans in and kisses his cheek and walks away. "See you." He calls out after walking a few steps, while Harry stays at the same place looking at him with a confused yet excited smile.

***

I'm confused about adding the other boys. There are not many main characters in the movie, so... lets see.