Chapter 16

Bella nodded and explained calmly, "Most of what I need can be bought here anyway. Nothing is especially important. I figured I'd just get things once I arrived." Hearing this, Nina felt a pang of envy. "That was smart. When I came, my mom stuffed my bags with all sorts of things she insisted I'd need. Just carrying the luggage nearly wore me out on the way here." Though she sounded like she was complaining, there was a faint trace of happiness in her voice. Bella's parents had married for convenience. They were temperamentally mismatched, constantly at odds, and Bella had been born more out of obligation than love. Neither showed her much affection, and she had never truly known the warmth of parental care. After their divorce, she became a burden neither wanted to keep. Hearing Nina speak of her "troubles", Bella smiled gently. "That's just their way of showing they care." Once they had finished unpacking, they spent some time exploring the campus. As the day drew to a close