Yes, they go out for a walk to test her painted clothes

"Now," Viki said, clapping her hands together. "Since Sofie is officially 'dressed' in her invisible paint, we need to test the durability. How about a walk? To the campus store? For snacks?"

Sofie’s eyes widened. "What? Outside? Like this?"

"It's the only way to know for sure," Viki said, grabbing Sofie’s arm. "Come on, Blue. Let's see if that paint holds up in the wild."

Sofie stared at Viki as if she’d grown a second head. "The campus store? Are you insane? It's broad daylight!"

"It's the perfect test," Viki insisted, already grabbing her keys. "Social media is full of people doing body paint 'social experiments' in public right now. People wear painted leggings to the gym and walk around like it's totally normal until someone gets close enough to realize.

It’s a thing, Sofie. You’ll be a trendsetter!"

"It’s not a trend if they arrest me for indecent exposure!" Sofie cried, looking down at her "outfit." The yellow tank top looked surprisingly realistic from her angle, a bright, athletic mustard color that matched one of her favorite summer shirts. The blue shorts, however, felt tight and rubbery. She knew that if she looked in a mirror, she’d see her own skin texture right through the paint.

"You're not naked," Robin said, finally finding his voice. He was still standing a few feet away, looking like he'd just run a marathon. "You're... covered. In art. As long as nobody... stares... at your... privates... within six feet... you're golden."

"Exactly," Viki beamed. "And since Robin is the one who painted it, he knows exactly how realistic it is. Or isn't. Besides, he can bring paint for touchups.b So, he's the perfect escort."

Robin groaned. "I'm going to regret this."

"Grab your wallet, Robin," Viki commanded, pushing Sofie toward the door. "We need ice cream. Stat."

The walk to the campus store was only a few blocks, but it felt like a marathon to Sofie. Every step was a battle against the urge to cover herself. The paint on her chest felt tight, pulling slightly with every breath, and the sensation of the air hitting her painted-but-bare inner thighs was maddening.

"Chin up," Viki whispered as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. "Walk like you own the place. Like you're wearing the latest designer fashion."

Sofie took a deep breath and straightened her posture. She walked with a stiff, robotic gait, her arms held slightly away from her sides to avoid rubbing the paint.

"You look like a robot," Viki sighed. "Relax. Swing your arms."

As they walked, Sofie realized that Viki was right about the distance. On the sidewalk, people walking past them at a normal distance just glanced at her with mild curiosity. A guy on a skateboard did a double-take, giving her a thumbs up. Hopefully it was just for the "retro neon" look, but he kept skating. No one screamed. No one called the police.

"See?" Robin hissed, walking close to her left side, effectively acting as a buffer. "It's working. You look... totally dressed."

"Don't jinx it," Sofie whispered back, clutching his arm tightly. "I feel like I'm one sneeze away from a felony."

They reached the campus store, which was bustling with students grabbing afternoon snacks. The automatic doors slid open, and the blast of air conditioning hit Sofie’s skin, making her shiver. The paint felt suddenly colder, emphasizing the fact that it was just a layer of dried liquid on her bare body. Her poor exposed nipples had become painfully stiff.

"Okay," Viki said, marching toward the ice cream aisle. "Mission: Snacks. Act natural."

Sofie tried to act natural. She really did. But navigating a crowded aisle while effectively naked was a nightmare. She had to turn sideways to squeeze past a guy stocking shelves, her heart hammering in her throat as her shoulder brushed his. He muttered a "sorry" and looked down at her chest, then a second glance at her nips, then quickly away.

Sofie froze. "He looked," she mouthed to Robin, her eyes wide with panic.

"He was just being polite," Robin whispered, stepping in front of her to block the view. "He didn't see anything. You're fine."

They reached the freezer section. Sofie stood in front of the glass doors, the cold air seeping into the "fabric" of her painted shorts. She looked down and could see the goosebumps rising on her legs, visible right through the blue paint.

"This is the worst idea ever," she muttered.

"Grab the Ben & Jerry's," Viki ordered, spinning around. "Oh, look! High schoolers!"

Three 18 year old boys, likely visiting the campus for a tour or just loitering, turned the corner into the aisle. They stopped dead when they saw Sofie.

"Whoa," one of them said, eyes widening. "Cool... shirt."

"Thanks," Sofie squeaked, crossing her arms over her chest. The movement smeared the yellow paint slightly, but she didn't care.

The boys, emboldened by her apparent confidence—or perhaps confused by it—took a few steps closer. They were well within the six-foot danger zone.

"Is that... spray paint?" one asked, squinting at her stomach. "It looks... weird."