Naedly Ever After

Author's note:

On a second thought, this could probably be part of chapter 4, but I'm publishing as I first wrote it so I'll keep it separate for now. It's a very simple chapter, but more is on the way.

Chapter 5: Mushroom Risotto

The first few hours flew by. Focusing on work actually helped taking her mind of her nudity, and Luke started acting more natural as they discussed worked related stuff. As far as Linda's behavior goes, Sophie might as well be dressed.

But the feeling of her nudity was always on her mind, never fully disappearing. She was always reminded of her lack of clothing when she moved around, when the AC air struck her just right, or when she touched her own skin. The occasional glance from Luke and other coworkers were enough to throw her off her every time. She once, distracted, caught herself caressing her pubic region like she usually do when naked at home, quickly withdrawing her hand when she realized what she was doing. She didn't think anybody noticed. At the very least they acted like they didn't.

It was about lunch time when Sophie realized she hadn't packed lunch. Because of the whole morning kerfuffle and rushing out to not get home late, she hadn't remembered to grab her lunch.

Which meant she would either have to starve or go outside and eat out. Starving had become a favorable option.

But she would have to do it, eventually. Might as well rip off that band-aid. Lots of ripping offs of band-aids going around recently, she thought to herself.

"Did you guys bring lunch? I forgot mine." She asked them.

"I can come with you." Linda responded.

"I brought mine." Luke answered. They looked at him for a second before he added. "But I can come with."

"Cool."

"That new Thai place?" Luke asked.

"Giorno's is closer." Said Sophie. The implied meaning of her casual remark didn't need an explanation.

By lunch time the three of them stood up and made their way to the elevator. Being hidden on their little corner helped her get more at ease, but parading naked in front of everyone made all those anxieties come back. She was super aware of her body. She could feel the glances at her. The touches of her body parts on each other. The lack of protection from the cold air. The alternating movement of her buttocks as she walked. The light bouncing of her breasts. Reminding herself of everything she hated, and people now had full frontal view to it. Her marks, her extra weight, her self-proclaimed weird proportions. She really wished she hadn't cut her hair short, so she could hide behind it. At the same time, she was glad she did it.

As she moved, she noticed the waistlet brushing against her skin. She might have forgot to remove it. She was glad for having this little thing now that gave her so much confidence. She tried to keep in mind how good she looked when she first tried it out.

The elevator ride was another first time. Being cramped there, on the elevator rush hour of lunch time, with all those people in contact with her bare skin for a couple minutes while everyone tried to politely ignore her nudity required her to keep looking at the door so not to freak out. She felt a hand brush at her ass and quickly retreat, embarrassed.

They got to the lobby, more eyes looking at her, and they left the building. Leaving the cold AC air was a relief, stepping into the midday sun on the streets, soaking in that warm.

That was short lived once she saw all those people passing by. All those looks.

"What the hell?"

"Pardon me."

"Geez."

"Hell yeah!"

All kinds of comments for all kinds of reactions. Shyly looking away, criticizing, encouraging. She decided to focus on the positive ones.

As they walked, she could only imagine how mismatched the trio might look. Linda, all professional on her black business pants and beige shirt. Luke, looking like he just left from a Metallica concert. And her, dressed the way she came to the world.

The bright sun kissed her entire skin. There was not a single shadow to conceal her nudity, and her pale skin shined like a beacon. The attention was palpable. She was far from the first person to walk the city naked, but it still wasn't a common sight. The way she behaved would set the tone on how people would treat her, so she tried to shove her insecurity as deep as she could. She straightened her backs, perked her chest and looked onwards, trying to ignore people as much as she could like a dressed person would.

They finally made to Giorno's. She couldn't wait to be seated and away from the street's view.

"Table for three, please." Linda, as always, led the way.

"Sorry." The host, a younger looking guy, said, after taking a good look at Sophie. "We don't have any table available."

"There are clearly table available. There are barely any taken."

"Those are reserved." He said, in a very condescending, antipathic way.

"Manager. Now." The fact Linda didn't even try to argue meant she was tolerating zero bullshit today. The fact she only used two words meant she was furious.

"Sure." The host answered, sounding very annoyed, with a fake smile on his face.

He went to the back and returned a little later, with a balding older looking man behind him.

"What seems to be the problem?" He politely asked, feigning normalcy after a quick reaction from Sophie's state.

"Your employee has denied us service." Her voice was slowly increasing. Oh no, people were starting to look. "We have been your clients for years now, and he says there are no available seat when there clearly are. And all of this because my friend here in naked!"

Naked... naked... naked... That word almost seemed to echo through the restaurants as everyone turned to look. They were all looking at her now. Fuck! She almost reacted by covering herself with her arms, but she couldn't do it.

"The boy seems to be mistaken. Come with me, please!" He hurriedly guided them to a table at the farthest end from the entrance. He clearly didn't want people seeing her restaurant being frequented by a nude woman.

He offered Sophie a chair that would conceal most of her body from the rest of the restaurant. Even though that was what Sophie wanted the most, she was way too pissed and seated on the one that made her whole body visible by everyone. She was a nerve wreck, yes, but she could never pass a chance for revenge. The manager gave an unpleased smile and retreated.

"Bon appetite!"

They took the menu and started reading through it.

"So," Luke was the first one to talk "is anyone going to tell me what is going on now?"

"Long story." Sophie said.

"We have all lunch." Luke rebutted. "Why are you naked? Not that I don't like it." The meaning of what he said seemed to have caught his attention as his faced shifted. "I mean, uh..."

"I know." Sophie blushed a deep red. Did Luke see her that way? "Well..."

Sophie began from the start. Her hard time, which they both remembered, her lingering trouble with her self-esteem even when she got better, her decision.

Then she got to the nude beaches, her outing this morning and, finally, her decision to just strip today. They both listened through the entirety of it. By the time she finished, a waiter had picked their choices.

Sophie chose a Mushroom Risotto. She had developed a taste for mushrooms once she started comparing herself to it. They both grow from unpleasant situations, turning unfavorable things into a chance for renewal.

"I didn't notice you still had trouble." Luke said.

"That's because you have the brain of a walnut." Linda answered. Outside of work, Linda could peel away the corporate façade and be herself. Her self was poking fun of everything they said, and friendly bickering matches were common among the three.

"But really, you felt so much more confident."

"I got really good at faking it." Being naked, although permanently awkward, made it easier to bare her feelings to them. "I wasn't as bad as before. But I was just... functional."

"Which is more than you can say about Linda. She can barely count anything without a calculator."

All he got back from Linda was a mocking stare.

"I'm glad to see you doing something that helps you." Linda said. "At least now you don't risk dressing like a punk rock wannabe."

"This is called style and I don't expect you to understand." Luke rebutted. "I mean, you are wearing beige."

"Now what is wrong with beige?" Linda asked.

"It's the most boring color there is! It's the color of skin! If you wanna be dressed in skin you are either a cannibal or you are walking around naked."

"Maybe I should make a Luke skin jacket, then."

"I think I prefer Sophie's idea."

"I have to agree with Linda on that." Said Sophie, deciding to but in. She knew they were politely leaving her out of it, but it felt more natural when they weren't. "As fine as I look, a Luke skin jacket would look great."

They ate their food and talked about everything and nothing. It was reassuring to have good people with her, and she felt things would probably turn out fine.