Turning Leaves

by Jaemlyn

A/U Mayoral Election - Dorian campaigns to be mayor and fights for equal rights under false pretenses (with David and Amelia by her side) but she is forced to explore the nature of her relationships and personal life while facing adversaries, her past, and her future. Are the Cramer women the key to her success, or will unexpected complications change everything?

4. Afternoon Abstraction

Afternoon sunshine filtered through the windows as Dorian took a disinterested look around the empty sitting room at her campaign materials.

"You're meddling again," came a deep, stern voice.

Dorian furrowed her brows and spun at the sound of the voice. "Hello?" No answer came. She looked again. "…Mel?"

She was answered by silence.

Dorian took a deep breath and moved to the credenza to pick up the picture of herself and Mel. Her eyes drifted over his image – his smile, his beard - every detail. There was a connection between them that was even apparent in a photograph.

She slid her thumb over the glass covering his tiny, flat cheek. Though he looked so alive in the picture, she could not touch him. "Where are you?" she whispered.

She sighed as she put the frame back in place and looked up at the ceiling. She knew he would tell her to back off – to stay out of Blair's business – to quit being manipulative.

She couldn't help but think that sometimes Mel was wrong. It was obvious Todd wanted to be with Tea. She was doing Blair a favor.

Besides, Ross Rayburn had a certain appeal – a mysterious quality – and those pecs! It was no good that he was mixed up with Todd and Tea, and his past was nothing to brag about, but perhaps that was the very thing that would draw Blair's attention.

I wouldn't say no to him, Dorian thought before wincing and scolding herself. She wasn't that desperate. Blair was.

But how dare Tea Delgado date R.J. or Ray Montez while she was still married to someone else? And now she was marrying Todd?

The best offer Dorian could get was from the lens of a camera every time she said something nice to or about David.

She scowled at these thoughts for a moment before trying to refocus on the campaign only to feel helpless.

Dorian turned her back to the nearest window and stood in a ray of sunshine where she felt the magnified warmth pour over her. She tilted her head and pulled her tall collar to the side so she could feel the softened heat kiss the skin of her neck as her eyes drifted over the quiet room again.

She felt beautiful today. She had everything to offer.

There was no one there to appreciate it.