Nouse woke up at 11:00. He was so tired from the last couple of weeks that he realised he hasn’t had a good sleep in days. It was almost 1 month since Scott’s death, and while the grief hasn’t gotten better for Nouse, by drowning himself out with the Condors, he hasn’t thought that much about Scott in a while.

It was still in his mind, of course it would be.

He had one house in mind, next to the new stadium. It would also allow him to see the progress on the new stadium, even more important now that the Condors were in the NBL.

He drove passed the stadium, parking in the IGA next door. Walking past the stadium, he was suprised by the progress made by the builders. He would check it out further after the open for inspection.

As he crossed the road, he saw he was the only person at the house. The owner and 2 kids were crying on the front lawn, the real estate agent standing behind, not knowing what to do.

‘What’s the issue?’ Nouse asked to the owner, an older man with gray slick-back hair and a checkered shirt.

‘We haven’t got any body. Not a single soul-

‘Lachie dosn’t count’ one of the kids murmured. He was maybe 16, and Nouse saw a small championship pendant from the Cougars last year.

‘Are you try out for the Condors?’ asked Nouse, still looking for backups.

‘No. I suck at basketball. I play tennis.’

‘Alright. Some good news though, I am extremely interested in the House’ ‘Anyone interested in the house so far’ Nouse questioned towards the owner.

‘One. Lachie Bennet. We’re not giving him the house though after what he did to Scott’

Nouse stood there in shock. What did Lachie do to Scott? The man saw his shock and explained quickly.

‘I’ll tell you in the future, you have enough on your plate right now’

Nouse wasn’t satisfied nor unsatisfied with the answer.

‘Well, I’m not gonna bother to look in the house. I’ll put in a bid for $1.2 million-

‘Deal’ the man threw the keys at him immediately. ‘We’ll find a day to do all the paperwork, but I’m taking the offer.’

‘Well that was quick.’ Said the real estate agent to himself.

For what seemed like one of the reoccurring things in Nouse’s life after Scott, he was happy again. He almost had forgotten he was meant to play pickleball this year - a plan that was obviously off the table now.

Just as he hopped in his car, he got a text from Rowan.

‘Hey, I’ve got the jerseys and logo ready’

Nouse stopped himself from starting the car to take a look - and it was perfect. Rowan had made a purple condor, menacing but still sleek. The jerseys were just as good, with purple and black stripes on the bottom, similar to the Portland Trail Blazers uniforms.

With a house, jerseys and the stadium taking shape, getting the players to all meet and the season ahead were now top priority. Something did occur to Nouse however, in the jerseys there were some spots for sponsors, so getting some money back could be something to look at.

Nouse had spent a large portion of his money, so sponsors were actually a extremely good idea, he needed money to live - he isn’t that rich, but rich enough to bring down the Cougars.