Orlando
"Go Knights, Charge On!"
Evelyna’s POV
The Knights were scheduled to play Houston at 7:30...an evening game! I’d already been to one game earlier in the year, but this was only their second home game so far. The first game was fun, but it wouldn’t be as much fun as it would be this time!! I was with Valeri Ivanovich Nichushkin for goodness sake, of course it was gonna be a BLAST!
Today, I wanted my new hockey player boyfriend to get the full college football experience.
We met up with my friend Kylie to go tailgating and Kaitlyn came with us. Melissa was at work, and Caitlin, unfortunately, couldn’t go because she wasn’t at UCF. She was actually going to Valencia and taking classes there. But no matter, they weren’t torn up about it. The two of them didn’t really seem to care much about football anyway. But for me, even if you weren’t into football, it was a great way to hang with people and have fun.
Val was a hockey player, but he was willing to give it a go. And mainly, he didn’t want to be left alone, even though Brock and Rick and all the bad guys had been arrested and were gone. He still wanted to be by my side and with me...it was fricking adorable, I tell you. He was like a loyal pet. My pet hockey player from the Dallas Stars! (My pet Star...)
We quickly ate together, consuming an entire large pizza that we had ordered. Then we all got ready and made it to the tailgating party, which was happening at a place called “Memory Mall” (or more familiarly known to me as The Yard). I knew Val wasn’t exactly comfortable at first, given that this was the scene of the first horrible crime that had taken place, but when people were friendly toward him and nothing happened to him, he was okay.
Plus, I wasn’t about to let ANYONE ruin his time or my time. For the two of us it was our first tailgating experience and it was supposed to be tons of fun!
We had a boat load of excitement tailgating. We went around the different booths and at one, we both took a shot at dunking some crazy Knight fan. And for our third and final shot, we teamed up and managed to hit the target, dunking him. We turned and high-fived one another. Teamwork! I could tell he was having a stellar time!
Val’s POV
Tailgating was fun as everyone said it would be. I had never been to a college football game or event like this ever before, being a hockey player and being that I was from Russia. I mean I was 19 years old and playing the NHL. I had no regrets over my decision and path I’d taken, but it was fun to try something new and different. God wanted me to be born a hockey player, but He also wanted me to experience this rare moment in Orlando.
To be honest, I actually got pressured by Kylie, Kaitlyn, Evelyna and the others into taking my shirt off and getting painted in black and gold. It wasn’t Dallas’ green and silver, but I wasn’t going to complain. Even if black and gold were the colors of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins. I just didn’t care. I was going to be open to whatever these crazy girls had planned. I wanted to try things and be open to anything they wanted me to be or do. And it wasn’t like Tyler or Jamie could see any of this...
I was all about having fun and trying new things. And I loved the music playlist that the tailgaters had. It was a really good DJ playlist and one of the best mixes I had heard. It didn’t have a ton of raunchy rap stuff, but I nice mix of everything. I am a big fan of listening to music. It helps me to cope with change and pretty much everything. It is really the only thing I can go to when I am upset or angry or feeling down. And I’m not that picky with my music either. I’ll listen to all kinds: country, 80s, 90s, now, hip hop, smooth jazz, you name it. But I’m just not big into rap or raunchy stuff.
Anyway, as I listened to the music, the girls all painted me. And luckily it was smear proof, so when I grabbed Evelyna into a tight embrace, it didn’t get all over her. For that I was extremely grateful. She might have killed me. She and all of her friends got face paint and soon we were all ready for some football.
We made our way into the stadium and made it into the student section, where we all chose to sit (well more like stand) in Section 206. I gazed down at the field, spotting the teams warming up. I hadn’t really seen a football stadium before. I mean I watched a little bit on TV, but that was more Dallas Cowboys and NFL stuff. Plus, I never really paid much attention, because it was always a party - often dragged along to by Jamie and Tyler.
This, however, was different. It was live. And it was college, not NFL or professional. I looked around, noticing how full the stands were. It was good to have a team that drew a decent sized crowd to a sporting event. It was pretty cool. I turned to my girlfriend, who was chatting with her roommate.
“Is this what fans see at hockey games?” I asked, biting my lip.
She leaned over to me and gave me a look that I could tell would say, “awe, you’re so cute.” And I completely understood why she would think that. I grinned at her, sheepishly, as she responded with, “Well, this is football. But yeah, it’s pretty similar. The one difference is that hockey is closer to the action I think and more exciting live!”
I chuckled at her. She was right, hockey was more entertaining and exciting!
I noticed that the football teams had both vanished somewhere. They weren’t on the field anymore. I looked around, trying see if I could find them, but I only saw the band taking the field.
“Where’d the players go?” I questioned, cocking my head in interest.
“Nichy, you silly goose, they went to the tunnel. They’re going to run onto the field, you know...it’s like the Stars bursting from the “Star” entrance!”
Oh! I hit my forehead in stupidity. She gave me a quick hug. I felt so stupid though. I should have known that.
As the game time rolled around and it was time for the football game to get started, the crowd came alive, as all the UCF students and family members stomped loudly in the stands where we were. A familiar theme of the song “Zombie Nation” played. The noise was thunderous. People chanted and screamed, “U-C-F KNIGHTS!” It WAS like a hockey game, only the arena made the noise twice as loud. I heard the booming voice of the announcer as he rang out with the pregame speech and then ran through the whole shebang, ending with, “Ladies and gentlemen, your UCF Knights!!” And the stands erupted in more noise.
The band launched into performing the instrumental version of the alma mater and the students sang along with the words, as they popped up on the scoreboard, across the field. Evelyna pointed it out to me and I happily joined in with her.
Together we sang out:
“All Hail to Alma Mater
whose banners Black and Gold
will wave in fame and splendor
as the passing years unfold.
May loyalty and friendship
within our hearts unite
and light the star to guide us
ever upward in our flight
With honor and affection
our friendships will renew
we sing of thee our Alma Mater ever true!”
I watched the team run back out onto the field, after the band finished up its show and the announcer finished his speech. In the background, I spotted a knight on a horse. The horse was taking lap, behind the endzone and the knight appeared to be “charging.” I pointed at it and exclaimed, “Pony!”
Evelyna had climbed up onto the bench behind me and draped her arms around my neck. She clasped her arms around my neck and lightly squeezed me. “You’re such a cutie!!” she squealed into my ear. “It’s the mascot. Like the Dallas Stars have in “Victor E. Green.” You know the green furry thing that has absolutely nothing to do with Stars or Dallas!”
I laughed at that, she was right! Then I turned my attention back to the field as the opening kickoff was about to happen. The band was gone now and it was football time! The game was underway, as the Knights plastered the opponent into the turf at the 10 yard line. And that great play was rewarded with hollering from the UCF student section. I joined in cheering on the Knights.
“Go Knights!!” Evelyna and I belted out.
She taught me all of the different hand gestures and motions for the plays. For a first down, you did a similar motion to the FSU chant, a sort of “chopping” motion with your arm. The only difference was that instead of having the hand open, it was a clenched fist. Then you ended it with just throwing your arm out, like one would do if they shouted, “Charge on!” On third downs, you held your arm and formed an “ok” sign with your fingers. I didn’t necessarily get or understand any of these motions, but that was okay. I didn’t bother with caring to know. I was having fun and participating and that was fine with me.
After all that was pretty much how I was living my life now, out of Russia. I didn’t need to know everything, as long as I could know enough to get by and had help and positive influences, I could get along just fine!
She also taught me a few verbal cues and every now and again Kylie or Kaitlyn would chime in. Apparently if someone shouted “Go Knights!” you replied with, “Charge on!”
And apparently there was a cool little fight song that they had. The band would instigate in the stands. Gradually all the girls and students around helped me out to understand the words and before the third time, I was ready to chant and sing along. This was the fight song that was chanted quite a few times throughout the game:
“U - C - F Charge On To The Field
With Our Spirit, We'll Never Yield
Black And Gold
Charge Right Through The Line
Victory Is Our Cry
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
TONIGHT OUR KNIGHTS WILL SHINE!”
By halftime, everyone was still alive and buzzing, but our group, me included, were all pretty tired. I guess my support was right on target as the Knights were crushing Houston with a massive score of 36-10. The team looked good. And it also made me feel a little homesick… well Dallas sick… inside. I missed playing on the ice with Jamie and Tyler and Sergei and all the boys. As much as I was enjoying myself, I did miss Dallas and the Dallas Stars.
Football was fine and fun, but it wasn’t hockey!
Kylie voiced an important question, “I’m hungry, should we go ahead and head back to get something to eat?”
“You’re ALWAYS hungry, Ky!” Evelyna joked with a playful, exaggerated sigh.
It was a legitimate question though. I was all for it, as I suddenly felt my tummy grumble at me. I realized that I too was hungry apparently. I wasn’t feel it until now. I nodded, turning to my “knight in shining armor” Evelyna Knight. I pouted my lip, looking at her. I knew she wouldn’t be able to tell me ‘no’ now. Not with how adorable I was being.
She sighed again and nodded. “Alright. That’s fine, Kaitlyn?”
“Yay!” Kylie and I cheered, sharing a look.
“Are we ever going to catch a full game?” Evelyna muttered to herself, giggling. “Kaitlyn, you going to come too?”
She was half paying attention as she jumped up and down, somehow still alive with energy. “I’m going to stay, but you three can go ahead and go. Do whatever you want.” On a little break, she turned finally and faced me. She looked me in the eyes and smiled. “Glad you could come and partake in the fun tonight, Val. It was a pleasure having you here and now you can see that UCF is more good than bad. Right?”
“Yeah, I guess…”
“You’re okay, Dallas Star.” She giggled, patting me on the head and then turned back to the game and screamed out, “GO KNIGHTS!!”
I smiled and followed Evelyna, who was following the leader in Kylie down the stairs. We walked back, out of the buzzing stadium and headed toward a place known as the Towers. We continued heading right, walking past a few drunk people, including a female who purposefully bumped into me. I could feel her hand serendipitously come in contact with my body below the belt. I immediately gasped and saw Evelyna shove her off and away, snorting like an angry bull.
“Hey, what’s your problem?” the girl defended, catching herself and looking like she was ready for a fight.
“What’s the HELL is YOUR problem, bitch!” Evelyna snapped back at her, holding her ground. She pushed me behind her and scraped her foot on the ground. She spun around to me all of a sudden and growled, “Hold me back, Val, cause I’m going to destroy this--!”
“Evelyna, stop it! No fighting, let just get out of here!” Kylie stated, grabbing her friend’s arm, before I could.
I just stood there awkwardly, with my hand out in front of me, before I scampered after them and we walked away. Luckily the drunk girl didn’t pursue us and soon we made it to the edge of the woods, where a sweet little path was.
“We’re going into the woods?” I asked.
“Yeah! It’s fine. You’ve got me here to protect you!” my redheaded girlfriend said.
“And I don’t mind helping as well!” Kylie added on, scolding her friend with a stern look.
I laughed at them. Kylie put on the light through her phone and we headed into the creepy, dark woods, following the path. Evelyna tried to scare me a few times, but Kylie eventually told her to quit it. I was too busy gazing around at the trees and snapping my head in every known direction just in case.
Finally after a few heart-stopping minutes, we arrived on the other side, unharmed. We stood on the edge of the road and I nervously slipped my hand into Evelyna’s. She looked at me and smiled with understanding. She wrapped her fingers around mine tighter.
When there was a clearing in the traffic, we darted across and headed into the community known as Northgate. We chatted together, as we walked to the back, where the apartments for both girls were.
And that was how my first college football experience went. Something I would never forget! But now, I had to focus on getting all the paint off of me. I couldn’t stay black and gold forever.
Even though it would be a part of me now forever.
The Knights were scheduled to play Houston at 7:30...an evening game! I’d already been to one game earlier in the year, but this was only their second home game so far. The first game was fun, but it wouldn’t be as much fun as it would be this time!! I was with Valeri Ivanovich Nichushkin for goodness sake, of course it was gonna be a BLAST!
Today, I wanted my new hockey player boyfriend to get the full college football experience.
We met up with my friend Kylie to go tailgating and Kaitlyn came with us. Melissa was at work, and Caitlin, unfortunately, couldn’t go because she wasn’t at UCF. She was actually going to Valencia and taking classes there. But no matter, they weren’t torn up about it. The two of them didn’t really seem to care much about football anyway. But for me, even if you weren’t into football, it was a great way to hang with people and have fun.
Val was a hockey player, but he was willing to give it a go. And mainly, he didn’t want to be left alone, even though Brock and Rick and all the bad guys had been arrested and were gone. He still wanted to be by my side and with me...it was fricking adorable, I tell you. He was like a loyal pet. My pet hockey player from the Dallas Stars! (My pet Star...)
We quickly ate together, consuming an entire large pizza that we had ordered. Then we all got ready and made it to the tailgating party, which was happening at a place called “Memory Mall” (or more familiarly known to me as The Yard). I knew Val wasn’t exactly comfortable at first, given that this was the scene of the first horrible crime that had taken place, but when people were friendly toward him and nothing happened to him, he was okay.
Plus, I wasn’t about to let ANYONE ruin his time or my time. For the two of us it was our first tailgating experience and it was supposed to be tons of fun!
We had a boat load of excitement tailgating. We went around the different booths and at one, we both took a shot at dunking some crazy Knight fan. And for our third and final shot, we teamed up and managed to hit the target, dunking him. We turned and high-fived one another. Teamwork! I could tell he was having a stellar time!
Val’s POV
Tailgating was fun as everyone said it would be. I had never been to a college football game or event like this ever before, being a hockey player and being that I was from Russia. I mean I was 19 years old and playing the NHL. I had no regrets over my decision and path I’d taken, but it was fun to try something new and different. God wanted me to be born a hockey player, but He also wanted me to experience this rare moment in Orlando.
To be honest, I actually got pressured by Kylie, Kaitlyn, Evelyna and the others into taking my shirt off and getting painted in black and gold. It wasn’t Dallas’ green and silver, but I wasn’t going to complain. Even if black and gold were the colors of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins. I just didn’t care. I was going to be open to whatever these crazy girls had planned. I wanted to try things and be open to anything they wanted me to be or do. And it wasn’t like Tyler or Jamie could see any of this...
I was all about having fun and trying new things. And I loved the music playlist that the tailgaters had. It was a really good DJ playlist and one of the best mixes I had heard. It didn’t have a ton of raunchy rap stuff, but I nice mix of everything. I am a big fan of listening to music. It helps me to cope with change and pretty much everything. It is really the only thing I can go to when I am upset or angry or feeling down. And I’m not that picky with my music either. I’ll listen to all kinds: country, 80s, 90s, now, hip hop, smooth jazz, you name it. But I’m just not big into rap or raunchy stuff.
Anyway, as I listened to the music, the girls all painted me. And luckily it was smear proof, so when I grabbed Evelyna into a tight embrace, it didn’t get all over her. For that I was extremely grateful. She might have killed me. She and all of her friends got face paint and soon we were all ready for some football.
We made our way into the stadium and made it into the student section, where we all chose to sit (well more like stand) in Section 206. I gazed down at the field, spotting the teams warming up. I hadn’t really seen a football stadium before. I mean I watched a little bit on TV, but that was more Dallas Cowboys and NFL stuff. Plus, I never really paid much attention, because it was always a party - often dragged along to by Jamie and Tyler.
This, however, was different. It was live. And it was college, not NFL or professional. I looked around, noticing how full the stands were. It was good to have a team that drew a decent sized crowd to a sporting event. It was pretty cool. I turned to my girlfriend, who was chatting with her roommate.
“Is this what fans see at hockey games?” I asked, biting my lip.
She leaned over to me and gave me a look that I could tell would say, “awe, you’re so cute.” And I completely understood why she would think that. I grinned at her, sheepishly, as she responded with, “Well, this is football. But yeah, it’s pretty similar. The one difference is that hockey is closer to the action I think and more exciting live!”
I chuckled at her. She was right, hockey was more entertaining and exciting!
I noticed that the football teams had both vanished somewhere. They weren’t on the field anymore. I looked around, trying see if I could find them, but I only saw the band taking the field.
“Where’d the players go?” I questioned, cocking my head in interest.
“Nichy, you silly goose, they went to the tunnel. They’re going to run onto the field, you know...it’s like the Stars bursting from the “Star” entrance!”
Oh! I hit my forehead in stupidity. She gave me a quick hug. I felt so stupid though. I should have known that.
As the game time rolled around and it was time for the football game to get started, the crowd came alive, as all the UCF students and family members stomped loudly in the stands where we were. A familiar theme of the song “Zombie Nation” played. The noise was thunderous. People chanted and screamed, “U-C-F KNIGHTS!” It WAS like a hockey game, only the arena made the noise twice as loud. I heard the booming voice of the announcer as he rang out with the pregame speech and then ran through the whole shebang, ending with, “Ladies and gentlemen, your UCF Knights!!” And the stands erupted in more noise.
The band launched into performing the instrumental version of the alma mater and the students sang along with the words, as they popped up on the scoreboard, across the field. Evelyna pointed it out to me and I happily joined in with her.
Together we sang out:
“All Hail to Alma Mater
whose banners Black and Gold
will wave in fame and splendor
as the passing years unfold.
May loyalty and friendship
within our hearts unite
and light the star to guide us
ever upward in our flight
With honor and affection
our friendships will renew
we sing of thee our Alma Mater ever true!”
I watched the team run back out onto the field, after the band finished up its show and the announcer finished his speech. In the background, I spotted a knight on a horse. The horse was taking lap, behind the endzone and the knight appeared to be “charging.” I pointed at it and exclaimed, “Pony!”
Evelyna had climbed up onto the bench behind me and draped her arms around my neck. She clasped her arms around my neck and lightly squeezed me. “You’re such a cutie!!” she squealed into my ear. “It’s the mascot. Like the Dallas Stars have in “Victor E. Green.” You know the green furry thing that has absolutely nothing to do with Stars or Dallas!”
I laughed at that, she was right! Then I turned my attention back to the field as the opening kickoff was about to happen. The band was gone now and it was football time! The game was underway, as the Knights plastered the opponent into the turf at the 10 yard line. And that great play was rewarded with hollering from the UCF student section. I joined in cheering on the Knights.
“Go Knights!!” Evelyna and I belted out.
She taught me all of the different hand gestures and motions for the plays. For a first down, you did a similar motion to the FSU chant, a sort of “chopping” motion with your arm. The only difference was that instead of having the hand open, it was a clenched fist. Then you ended it with just throwing your arm out, like one would do if they shouted, “Charge on!” On third downs, you held your arm and formed an “ok” sign with your fingers. I didn’t necessarily get or understand any of these motions, but that was okay. I didn’t bother with caring to know. I was having fun and participating and that was fine with me.
After all that was pretty much how I was living my life now, out of Russia. I didn’t need to know everything, as long as I could know enough to get by and had help and positive influences, I could get along just fine!
She also taught me a few verbal cues and every now and again Kylie or Kaitlyn would chime in. Apparently if someone shouted “Go Knights!” you replied with, “Charge on!”
And apparently there was a cool little fight song that they had. The band would instigate in the stands. Gradually all the girls and students around helped me out to understand the words and before the third time, I was ready to chant and sing along. This was the fight song that was chanted quite a few times throughout the game:
“U - C - F Charge On To The Field
With Our Spirit, We'll Never Yield
Black And Gold
Charge Right Through The Line
Victory Is Our Cry
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
TONIGHT OUR KNIGHTS WILL SHINE!”
By halftime, everyone was still alive and buzzing, but our group, me included, were all pretty tired. I guess my support was right on target as the Knights were crushing Houston with a massive score of 36-10. The team looked good. And it also made me feel a little homesick… well Dallas sick… inside. I missed playing on the ice with Jamie and Tyler and Sergei and all the boys. As much as I was enjoying myself, I did miss Dallas and the Dallas Stars.
Football was fine and fun, but it wasn’t hockey!
Kylie voiced an important question, “I’m hungry, should we go ahead and head back to get something to eat?”
“You’re ALWAYS hungry, Ky!” Evelyna joked with a playful, exaggerated sigh.
It was a legitimate question though. I was all for it, as I suddenly felt my tummy grumble at me. I realized that I too was hungry apparently. I wasn’t feel it until now. I nodded, turning to my “knight in shining armor” Evelyna Knight. I pouted my lip, looking at her. I knew she wouldn’t be able to tell me ‘no’ now. Not with how adorable I was being.
She sighed again and nodded. “Alright. That’s fine, Kaitlyn?”
“Yay!” Kylie and I cheered, sharing a look.
“Are we ever going to catch a full game?” Evelyna muttered to herself, giggling. “Kaitlyn, you going to come too?”
She was half paying attention as she jumped up and down, somehow still alive with energy. “I’m going to stay, but you three can go ahead and go. Do whatever you want.” On a little break, she turned finally and faced me. She looked me in the eyes and smiled. “Glad you could come and partake in the fun tonight, Val. It was a pleasure having you here and now you can see that UCF is more good than bad. Right?”
“Yeah, I guess…”
“You’re okay, Dallas Star.” She giggled, patting me on the head and then turned back to the game and screamed out, “GO KNIGHTS!!”
I smiled and followed Evelyna, who was following the leader in Kylie down the stairs. We walked back, out of the buzzing stadium and headed toward a place known as the Towers. We continued heading right, walking past a few drunk people, including a female who purposefully bumped into me. I could feel her hand serendipitously come in contact with my body below the belt. I immediately gasped and saw Evelyna shove her off and away, snorting like an angry bull.
“Hey, what’s your problem?” the girl defended, catching herself and looking like she was ready for a fight.
“What’s the HELL is YOUR problem, bitch!” Evelyna snapped back at her, holding her ground. She pushed me behind her and scraped her foot on the ground. She spun around to me all of a sudden and growled, “Hold me back, Val, cause I’m going to destroy this--!”
“Evelyna, stop it! No fighting, let just get out of here!” Kylie stated, grabbing her friend’s arm, before I could.
I just stood there awkwardly, with my hand out in front of me, before I scampered after them and we walked away. Luckily the drunk girl didn’t pursue us and soon we made it to the edge of the woods, where a sweet little path was.
“We’re going into the woods?” I asked.
“Yeah! It’s fine. You’ve got me here to protect you!” my redheaded girlfriend said.
“And I don’t mind helping as well!” Kylie added on, scolding her friend with a stern look.
I laughed at them. Kylie put on the light through her phone and we headed into the creepy, dark woods, following the path. Evelyna tried to scare me a few times, but Kylie eventually told her to quit it. I was too busy gazing around at the trees and snapping my head in every known direction just in case.
Finally after a few heart-stopping minutes, we arrived on the other side, unharmed. We stood on the edge of the road and I nervously slipped my hand into Evelyna’s. She looked at me and smiled with understanding. She wrapped her fingers around mine tighter.
When there was a clearing in the traffic, we darted across and headed into the community known as Northgate. We chatted together, as we walked to the back, where the apartments for both girls were.
And that was how my first college football experience went. Something I would never forget! But now, I had to focus on getting all the paint off of me. I couldn’t stay black and gold forever.
Even though it would be a part of me now forever.
Notes
Links to the UCF Songs: (If anyone cares or is interested at least)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajltWGQLmNs - Alma Mater :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyTAH1dzOEI - Fight Song (Band)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ITIQMuosOI - War Chant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJRmtl1rG98 - Chant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qg19fKZqec - Opening Medley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5awyn2zlq3w&list=UUzi4bq7cTNz045srLKmop3Q - Knight Pump Up Song “Knightmare”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi_SaWxLWGc - Footage of the War Chant! :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAnu325Rt3w - Zombie Nation UCF Chant (I chanted Boston Bruins one time, when I was at the second game! Haha, gotta give credit to the goal song of the NHL team!)
So I was going to have this be have football game and half going to a club place called "The Library", but Val's 19 and not old enough to drink and my character isn't the type to get an underage guy drunk, so I decided to just do the game. I hope I made it long enough. :)
All of the information in the UCF Knights game chapter here is factual. I hope that this maybe gives light to college and the college atmosphere. It can be as fun as you make it! But really, even if you aren't into football very much, I strong recommend attending college football games and tailgating events. Homecoming is especially fun!
Next up: Preparing for Val to leave....NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! :(((((((((( But at least my character is going to stay with him...yay I get to meet Seguin coming up............oh man.....shit!
Here's another version of the edit I made for the Valentine's Day chapter:
2/14/15