Blurb.

Zak
The world is in a pandemic, the streets are empty, businesses closed and people are told to stay at home.

But what happens to all those people living alone?

Zak a self proclaimed 'peewee Herman loner' finds himself in isolation, away from everything and everyone he knows. Normally some peace and quiet is exactly what he craves, but as the weeks draw on, the true depth of lonely sinks in.

Which leads him to download an app, where he can be anything and anyone he wants to be.

Dropping the TV personality Zak everyone knows him for and becoming Zak, the one he kissed goodbye to when he went on the adventure of paranormal investigating.

Would life have been any sweeter if he stayed DJing? Is the grass greener on the other side?

And what happens when he finds someone who he connects with on a deeper level than he anticipated?

The only problem is, he isn't that Zak anymore and letting go of that may be harder than he first thought.

Bailey

I knew I should have never downloaded the stupid app. Because now I'm obsessed with finding someone who is on the same level as me.

Swipe, that's all it takes and bam, an unwanted D pic in your inbox... or is that a toe?

Anyway, I'm losing faith in the men on this app. Someone asked to buy my tights and to have pictures of my feet...

Is chivalry dead? Where's those guys who know how to treat a lady? Compliments, jokes and conversation.

Not crudeness, disrespect and.. Jesus it's another nude pic. What is with theses men?!

I'm almost ready to delete the app, when a new profile pops up.

~~~~
Zak - Vegas.

Avid reader, lame joke teller, antique collector, loves travelling, has a dog, has own teeth and is housetrained. (Not just talking about the dog now.)

Looking for conversation from meaningful to which Addams family member is the best.

Mines Fester, convince me otherwise.

~~~~~
My eyes narrow. I freakin' love Addams family and I'm willing to argue that Gomez and Morticia are relationship goals. I love dogs too, but there's no profile picture.

What if he looks like a foot?

My mind flashes back to my inbox and I shudder.

I swipe on Zak, he gets a green light...

For now.

********

Intro..

Zak POV

Nobody thought they would live through a health pandemic, but here we all were, in the year 2020, doing just that. The world was in a crisis, people were dying at an accelerated rate and I'd be a liar if I said that it didn't scare the shit out of me.

A respiratory pandemic was no mix for anyone, let alone me, with asthma. Christ, I had to wear a mask during lockdowns because the slightest bit of dust had my lungs spasming..

"How are you doing, honey?" My mom asks in her soothing voice down the phone.

I know what she wants to hear, she wants reassurance that I'm back to my usual kooky self and that despite the world being completely fucked, that I'm safe.

I appease her with "On the right track."

It's a lie, but I force a smile onto my face so that she can see it during our video call.

"And you have enough food?"

"I'm all set up, you don't need to worry about me. I'm a grown man."

"And I'm a mother, it's a life long commitment." She counters, giving me a smile.

"If I need anything, I can go to the store." I add.

She gasps and I know I've put my foot it in, instantly. "You most certainly will not! You are vulnerable Zak."

There's that word again. Vulnerable doesn't sit with me and I grumble under my breath. I face down demons for a living, I work against the forces of evil and live with the aftermath of doing that, vulnerable is not and will never be a word that I would use to describe myself.  Ever.

"Your asthma is a major factor against you. Especially with a respiratory pandemic. No. You are to stay in and if you need things, you get Robert to help you, if he can't, then you ring me. You are not to go out."

I want to remind her that they also stated that the older generation have problems too, but for the sake of getting a clip around the ear and silent treatment, I keep quiet. Bacon is my assistant and I know if I need anything, then he will drop it on the doorstep for me. But it's not safe anywhere right now, and I wouldn't risk anyone's health to bring me food that I can probably forage up out the cupboards.

The main thing I miss, besides working as working will always be the number one spot with my workaholic ass, is conversation. I know I have hundreds of thousands of people that I can speak to online, but it's not the same as a personal conversation. The interaction of getting to know someone. The one to one kind.

I wrap up the call with my mom, knowing she has to ring my sister next and hustle into the kitchen to find yet more food to eat. I'm not hungry, but bored and that's always a problem...

Walking past the open bag of popcorn, I take a bit out and chew. No, still needs a couple more days before it's stale and chewy, how I like it. I'm about to head dive into the pantry when my phone rings again. This time, it's Bacon.

"What's up bro?" He asks as soon as the call connects.

"I'm going out my ever loving mind. It's complete bullshit." I moan at him.

"World wide pandemic, people dying, it's better safe than sorry dude. What are you up to?"

"Eating again."

He laughs "Yeah man, same. It's the only thing you can do, right? I'm still looking for that inspiration people find of getting fit during lockdown, I'm just getting fat."

I laugh "Me too. I have at least 5 meals a day now, that's not counting snacks."

"Damn you're going in hard. Thought about trying to work from home?"

"Yeah, I got some done. But then I find myself out the office and in the kitchen, it's all on the pretense of a refreshment break, not a fucking hamper break which is what I run back to the office with."

He laughs loudly down the phone at me. "I watched one film and I thought I had a party, the amount I ate."

"I know, right? I've looked online for those timed door locks," I tell him causing another boom of laughter. "I'm serious, I thought I was a healthy eater, but shit."

"You got enough food though, yeah?"

"Well I thought I did, until I started an all you can eat buffet in my own home. Gracie gives me the side eye whenever I slide into the pantry."

"If you need anything, text me. I'll drop it at the gate and spray it all down before heading off."

"Thanks bro. So you're keeping okay?" I ask.

"Absolutely. Bored, but safe and that is the main thing. You thought anymore about that link I sent you the other day?"

I shake my head "I don't know bro.."

"Hey, it was just a suggestion. I think a lot of people are open to trying these things now lockdown has come into place. Just think about it, what have you got to lose?"

I want to say my dignity, that if anyone was to find out it was me, they'd come for my throat, as most people do in this social media driven world. I seem to forget that I'm 'Zak the womanising predator' .. {can you sense my sarcasm?}

I give a noncommittal hmm instead.

***

When I sit down later that evening, I look for the app and with Bacons words ringing in my mind, I hit the download button. What did I have to lose? I didn't have to be me on the app. I could be anyone.

That gave me some thought as I play with Gracie's ear, lulling her into a nap.
I could be Zak - a civil engineer?

Zak - the mechanic?

Zak - the museum curator (that one would be kind of true..)

Zak- the store employee.

Essentially, Zak the catfish.

The app was to make friends, socialise and some have used it for dating according to Bacon, but I decide that it's strictly for socialising, like the other social media apps on my phone.

Only this one, I'm going to be different.

It had came out a couple weeks before the lockdown and now we are at the end of April, and with our quarantine special complete, I'm ready for some kind of human interaction. Hell I just want something.

I wouldn't say I'm a needy kind of guy, but there is something there, some need that can't be scratched whilst talking to the fans. Maybe it's the fact I'm now being given the option to be whoever I want?

That I can drop the TV personality I've created in order to protect myself and my family and just be me?

As soon as I open the app, I get started on building my profile, keeping the default display picture to protect my anonymity.

The bio was a little tricker than I thought, but I throw together something that I would consider reasonable and hit save. Now I'm in a new world of meeting people.

What could possibly go wrong?!

************
Authors note.

& Here's the next story! Just a sneak peek of what is to come. A reader sent me the idea and I absolutely love it.

Especially as it correlates to what is going on in the world at the moment. And if you're stuck inside (like me) you need a little pick me up, right?

So keep your eyes peeled for when this drops. It's going to be a ball!!