When in Sochi

Bribes on Bribes ♡

I wrote the letter in an hour. It was hard to find the right words to say. I'm usually very good at writing, but this was so hard for me to do.

Sue videotaped me reading the letter and I almost cried. But I didn't want JR to see my ugly crying face.

Sue left for the arena and left me in JR's room. She let me have some closure with at least... his possessions. It's pathetic, I know. But that's all I had left to remember him by. I smelt his shirts one last time and the overwhelming scent of Axe body wash and something sweet.

I almost passed out a second time. Laying on the couch, I stared up at the ceiling and cried. I can't believe I'm gonna die. I remember when I was 16 I was always saying things like "I wanna die" "I wanna kill myself", but now when you're actually gonna experience it, you just wanna take it all back.

Suddenly the door opened and I heard a gasp.

I looked and it was a tall good-looking guy with some stubble in his face.

"Shoot," he said when he saw me. I noticed a small little pouch in his hands. It resembled a tea bag. Was that the thing that would tamper the dope test?

"What's that?" I asked, pointing at the bag.

"It's... It's this flavor-thing that JR wants me to put in his drink. Uh, he asked me to get his water bottle up here, and... You know those Mios things when you squirt stuff in the drink? This is the one-"

"-bull shit," I told him as I got up and walked over. "You're gonna tamper with his dope test."

"Uh... What?" The guy laughed.

"Tell Gretchen to burn in hell, this plan stops now. Hand over the pouch."

The guy stared at me, wide-eyed. "You don't know what you're doing...."

I look at his shirt and read the name on there. "Eddy Alvarez is it? And you've been best friends with JR since you were kids. Do you really want to ruin his dream?"

"Well, I tested positive for my dope test and I have to compete in the relay with him. Gretchen's blackmailing me with it."

"What we gotta do it get your test from Gretchen. Where did you get tested?"

"In a clinic on the outskirts of Sochi," he answered. "I couldn't get it tested here."

"You're honestly really dumb," I grumbled."Call them. Here's my credit card number. Offer them $10,000 or something, keep going higher if they say no, but your limit is $20,000. Russians are suck ups for bribes."

Eddy looked at me, awestruck. "You're giving me $10,000 to bribe them?"

I rolled my eyes. "Next time you burn a blunt, remember that you're an Olympian, dumbass."

I was about to walk out the door when he said "JR has the best girlfriend ever."

Turning around, I said "Tell him I love him. Promise me you'll tell him." And I left.