Wednesday's Words on a Friday

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along and read it.

This month the prompts are supplied by Lee and can be found here.

This week's words/prompts are: 

1. mythology 
2. contemporary 
3. instinct 
4. overture 
5. banter 
6. groundbreaking  

and/or: 

1. barrier 
2. captivate 
3. companion 
4. unique 
5. affair 
6. interior 

Here is my story:  

Richard hung back in the corner of the room, wishing he hadn't come. This office party was going to be just as disastrous as every other. Since high school, there had been a barrier between himself and every other person on the planet it seemed. 
As he sipped his soft drink, he gazed about the interior and marvelled at the easy banter between all the others. He had no idea how to even begin making an overture to another person. 
In high school, he had read every book the library had on how to make friends, how to be outgoing etc, but had not been able to put into practise any of the methods. Richard watched as the newest girl, Lucy captivated her companion with her unique perspective on contemporary architecture. 

He watched as Derek moved in closer to her, knowing what would happen. As always, Derek would begin an affair with this young lady, as he had so many times before. She would be devastated and heartbroken in six weeks if the pattern ran true. Surely one of the other girls had warned her? Maybe Lucy thought she could be "the one". 

Richard's instinct was to butt in and somehow rescue Lucy, but his feet refused to move and his voice was barely a squeak. Perhaps instead, he could be there to pick up the pieces?
Or even, just maybe, Lucy would be the heartbreaker this time and Derek would get a taste of his own medicine? 

He hung his head, knowing again that it would never happen. He should never have joined this firm, should never have studied architecture. 
He was very good at his job, winning awards for several designs, but his heart belonged to Mythology and in a groundbreaking moment, wondered if perhaps he could design something that would incorporate his fanciful ideas. 

A hotel perhaps, where people could hold renaissance parties set in those Mythological times. His face brightened at the idea and for the first time, someone noticed. Hannah, herself very shy, suddenly saw the interest in his face, a sparkle in his eyes and began crossing the room.