Saturday 03/04/23
Robb's keyboard clicked and clacked furiously as he searched nervously for any loophole or exception which would make the news he just received better. He swiveled in his seat, his wide hips guiding the chair into a more comfortable position, typing and whispering "fuck, fuck, fuck" as the realization of how doomed he was sunk in.
The grants which had paid for Robb's graduate program had evaporated, the funding pulled as a cost cutting measure. If he couldn't find some workaround or a decent paying job that also allowed him ample time for studies, he was fucked.
He slammed his laptop shut and called Anne, his girlfriend of 5 years, and a graduate student at a school two states over. Her degree focus was not facing the same cuts.
"I'm fucked, there's nothing I can do!"
"Baby, I'm sure we'll find something! I'll help you look!"
"Thanks, babe. I just don't know....what the hell I'm going to do. All this work for nothing. Fuck!"
"You need to take a break, Robb. I know it sucks. It sucks ass. But, you need to care for yourself too. Please promise me you'll take a walk or something to clear your head. I'll touch base with some contacts, ok? I love you."
"You're...you're right, Anne. Thank you. I love you too."
Robb decided to take a walk, stopping at a park bench to clear his head. Whipping out his phone, he took in pics of Anne nude she had sent him recently. He grew excited and horny until he swiped into the ones of her getting fucked by her graduate advisor. Deflated, he put his phone away and kept walking.
The time and distance apart had been hard for Robb and Anne. Anne's idea of them having an open relationship while apart hadn't helped. He enjoyed the pics of her alone but wasn't too thrilled with seeing the pics of her getting fucked with her instruction to "imagine it's you that's fucking me."
It was what it was. Robb knew Anne loved him. He knew she had a higher sex drive then him. He also recognized she was out of his league and he was basically a cuck. Sometimes, late at night, and especialy when he was drunk, he would think about it and get off on it. He'd feel ashamed after and push it out of his mind most of the time. Gradually, the shame had disapated, but he wasn't mentally ready to process that.
In as much as he tried, Robb had struck out in his attempts to hook up. He was very self conscious and that type of thing didn't come easy. His dick was on the smaller side of average and his body was for a lack of a better word, androgynous. Wide birthing hips, thick thighs, a bubble butt, a little paunchy belly contrasted with a flat chest, normal untoned arms and legs, and a face that struggled to grow facial hair. It also didn't help matters that Robb kept his hair long, because Anne liked it.
Dejected and with no solutions in sight, he went back to his apartment and went to bed.
He was awoken by his phone going off early the next morning. Seeing that it was his graduate advisor, Dr. Frederick, he quickly responded.
"Robb, I know you've been stressing. I think I may have found something that could work for you. There's good and bad news, of course."
"Dr. Frederick, thank you so much. I'm definitely interested in staying on and continuing my research. What is it?"
"It's a bit of a work study situation. Your tuition would continue to be paid, but you'd have to room with two underclassmen. Your job would essentially be to assist them in the college transition, helping to keep their room tidy, cooking, errands, etcetera."
"So...I'd be their maid essentially" Robb answered sadly.
"Look, I'll level with you. It's not optimal. However, with sign ups for next semester approaching, it may be your best bet if you'd like to continue. The spots are filling up fast, but I managed to secure one for you temporarily. I'm going to email you the brochure. I'm sorry this is happening, but there's unfortunately nothing else I can do..."
"Oh, I know, Dr. Frederick. I'm sorry. I do appreciate your assistance and will read over this now."
"Great! We will need an answer by end of day to secure your spot. I know that's a tight fit, but.."
"I understand. I'll get it filled out either way as soon as I can."
Robb read over the agreement and it appeared to be just as bad as he thought. He'd basically be helping out two freshmen in a three bedroom specialized dorm off campus. His responsibilities included cleaning, cooking, and other domestic tasks. He groaned as he read on.
There was a bonus structure he could earn based on reviews by the freshmen he'd be watching over. On the other end, he would be disqualified and terminated if his reviews were too low. There was boilerplate remarks about bullying, etc and apparently there would be a modified RA in the building to handle disputes.
Robb was in between a rock and a hard place. He spent hours pondering. Finally, after talking again with Anne, he arrived at the conclusion that, while it may suck, it was better than being kicked out of school. Also, he could apply for jobs while enrolled in the program and maybe more grants would open up. He filled out the application and received an approval the next day.
Wednesday 03/08/23
Robb was all moved in. He had a short meet and greet with Derek, the 22 year old RA before the freshmen, Arnold and Chuck, showed up. Both 18 and total jock bros, they seemed nice enough, promising they wouldn't make too much of a mess.
They asked Robb for some help unpacking, which he agreed to with some hesitation, and he already felt used as the teens took on more of a supervisory role, telling him where things were to be placed.
Following that, Robb got to work on dinner, using a meal plan the teens had provided to Derek. He brought their plates into the living room and was dismayed to see them cracking open some beers.
Recalling from the agreement that he was also to be a monitor of sorts against illegal activity, he cautiously referenced the agreement and asked if they could stop.
"Nine" Arnold, responded.
"Ex..excuse me?" Robb responded.
"Eight"
"Wha.."
"As far as we can tell from the agreement, you gotta keep your review scores up to keep the job, right? Kinda seems like they frown on anything lower than a seven." Chuck interrupted with a grin. "Maybe let this one go."
"But.."
"Seven" Arnold continued.
"Probably doesn't look good if you start your first week off so low" Chuck said with a fake sigh.
"Down to six now for not giving us our food, dude."
Robb shut his trap and set the plates with utensils down before them.
"I'll be in the kitchen, if you need anything." Robb said through gritted teeth.
Sitting at the kitchen table, Robb rubbed his temples and groaned at the predicament he was in. He collected their plates and washed up before spending some time studying and setting an alarm so he'd be up in time to make those idiots breakfast.
Thursday 03/09/23
"Five!!" Roared Arnold as he woke Robb up.
Rubbing his eyes and noticing he had somehow slept through his alarm, he scrambled to the kitchen to offer breakfast before being rebuffed by both of them as the flatly stated they were running late already.
"We'll talk about this when we get home" Arnold said as he slammed the door.
Robb dropped to the couch totally deflated. After some brooding, he decided to get the house in order and went to the biology lab to continue his graduate research.
Upon his return to the apartment, he stopped by Derek's apartment to talk over his experience so far.
"That definitely isn't how this should work, man, I'm sorry" Derek said as he squeezed a stress ball.
"This program is wonky for sure and I have to level with you. I know you're in the same boat as a lot of us, needing this to continue being enrolled. These dumb ass freshmen kind of have you in a bind. I can run this up to the program director, but if they get kicked out that kind or fucks you over too because you'll have no one else to bunk with and therefore not qualify for the program."
"Think it over and let me know what you want to do. My opinion is that, yeah, let some of the small stuff go so long as it's happening inside and not causing a ruckus, no one is the wiser."
"Yeah," Robb sullenly replied. "OK, I get it. It's a system like anything else that has to be gamed. I'll try to ease off and keep the peace."
