In the days leading up to the Homecoming football game at King’s Fork High School, people kept coming up to senior Rasheda Watson, telling her they’d voted for her as the Queen. She couldn’t believe it.

&uot;I don’t talk to too many people,&uot; said Watson, who spent her first two high school years at Lakeland before switching to Suffolk’s newest school. &uot;People think I’m stuck up, but I’m not. I felt like I had a chance to get everyone to know me.&uot;

Meanwhile, Nico Byrum was taking a few extra steps to make sure the rest of the Bulldog pack knew him.

&uot;I handed out candy and put up some flyers,&uot; he said. &uot;I had a couple students walk around, asking people to vote for me. I just wanted to be a part of the Homecoming Court.&uot;

As the big night came around last Friday, Watson, Byrum and the rest of the Court gathered behind the end zone of the school football stadium, watching the first half of their team’s battle with crosstown rival Nansemond River. As the halftime whistle blew, everyone went to the sideline facing the home crowd.

The freshman, sophomore and junior representatives were named, as were 2004-05 King and Queen Raschard Harden and Brittany Waller. Then came the newest nominees, as five girls were running for Queen and three boys for King.

Watson, on the arm of her father Michael, came across the field to the cheers of her classmates and the sound of the loudspeaker, which detailed her membership in the Fork ROTC unit and hopes to attend Norfolk State University and study to become a nurse.

&uot;I was excited,&uot; she said. &uot;I’d never walked in front of a whole bunch of people like that.&uot;

Accompanied by his mom Jacqueline, Byrum stepped over as his classmates heard about his yearbook staff membership and plans to study graphic design at the Maryland Institute of the Arts.

&uot;I was wondering how many of the people were cheering for me,&uot; he said.

A few seconds later, they and everyone else found out; Watson and Byrum were named the second-ever members of Bulldog royalty.

&uot;I was surprised,&uot; Watson said. &uot;It’s great to have people validate you and what you did.&uot;

Both the Queen and King said they celebrated by going out to dinner.

&uot;I was a little excited,&uot; Byrum said. &uot;I was the King!&uot;

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com