This is my first attempt at uploading anything text-based.
I hope the story isn't too boring or cringe worthy.

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The sound of calm guitar music was playing from Hariett's phone through her earpieces
while the uber drove down the road leading to her new home.
She looked at all the old buildings passing by and wondered what kind of people lived here.
Maybe people like her?
Maybe they also just wanted some peace after the heavy rain of life had washed them away?
She wondered what kind of person her roommate would be.
He had seemed like a kind person when she chatted with him about the room she would be renting.
He had respected her wish not to talk over the phone; not many people did that.
Not many people understood how scary it was to her.

The car ended its journey in front of a brick building with a friendly green patch in front of it.
It didn't seem like much in this big city, but Hariett wasn't looking for much.
She liked it; it already seemed like a place she could get used to calling "home."

"Here we are. Do you need any help with the boxes?" The driver asked.
Hariett shook her head and offered her card for payment.
In all honesty she just wanted to get away from this stranger as soon as possible.
He wasn't unfriendly, but strangers in general made her feel uncomfortable.
The driver waited for her to pick out her two cardboard boxes of belongings before he drove off.
She watched him leave before she realized that she wouldn't be able to carry both the boxes into the building at the same time, at least not while carrying her bag of clothes too. She couldn't just leave one out here either.
She had messed up... again...
What a great way to start her new life, some things never changed.
Hariett took a deep breath and gave the situation some thought; maybe she could text the guy she would be staying with?
Heavens, no, that would be too much to ask of a stranger. She didn't know him that well yet.
She decided to carry one box a bit of the way and put it down to get the other one.
This way she could keep an eye on both of them, even if it was a lot of extra work.
At least she wouldn't lose anything.

...

Koseas had been cleaning up a storm while getting everything ready for the new tenant to arrive.
He liked to keep his home tidy, but it had to be extra nice for the new girl.
He had never had a girl for a roommate before; it was a little unnerving.
What if she didn't like the way he decorated the apartment? He supposed she would have things of her own that she wanted to decorate with. She hadn't exactly been very detailed in her text messages, but it was ok, he liked surprises. Nice ones anyway.
All he had to do now was wait for her to show up.

...

Hariett had just managed to enter the building but faced a new challenge.
There was no lift, just stairs.
Of course, she wasn't sure what she had expected, the building was old after all.
Hariett pulled out her phone to remind herself what floor the apartment was on.
"You'll be living on the fourth floor, so the view is pretty good if you're not afraid of heights." Read one of the messages from the guy that owned the place.
Suddenly she regretted not having taken up the driver's offer a bit. It would be a long way up.

One flight of stairs at a time she made her way and right before her arms were about to give in she reached her goal.
Hariett sat down to breathe for a bit.
Looking down the hallway, she spotted a door. That was it, her new home.
Once she had caught her breath, she brought the two boxes over to the door and knocked with some hesitation. She was nervous, but also a little excited.
The door opened.

T-Tall! Her new roommate was so much taller than her!
Hariett's fur fluffed up against her will, trying to make her seem less small and fragile.
"Ah! You must be Hariett, yes? Welcome!" The guy greeted her. As he opened the door all the way, she saw that his lower half was that of a snake! This guy wasn't a human like she had expected.
"Haaaa-... y-yes, I'm Hariett. Hello..!" She managed. Her mind realized that she was being invited to step inside, but her legs wouldn't move.
"My name is, Koseas. I'm the guy you texted with." The half-snake continued. "I see you have a couple of boxes; do you want me to bring them to your room?" He smiled.
"N-No, I'm food-... eeer, I mean 'good'! I'm good! Just show me where to go." Hariett stammered.
Koseas looked a bit puzzled at her but did as she asked.
He watched her as she ran back and forth to bring both of the boxes to the room.
Once they were both inside, she grabbed the door and almost shut it before she realized how rude that would be.
"I'll just-... I'll be in here to unpack for a bit. Thanks for greeting me." Hariett said.
"Ok, I guess a truck will arrive with the rest of your things?" Koseas asked her through the opening of her almost closed door.
"No, this is it. Please have me excused." She replied and closed the door.
She couldn't help but lock it before she slid down on the other side.
Her heart was beating violently, and her breath came out in small gasps.
"A snake..!" She whispered to herself. He was so big and scary! He could eat her if he tried!
Didn't snakes eat furry animals? She wasn't sure, but she hadn't expected this any the less!
Coming here was a big mistake. Hariett almost wanted to return home to her mom, almost.
She decided to try and unpack to calm her thoughts.
She reminded herself that she didn't know him yet.

...

Koseas had been left alone on the other side of a locked door.
'Did I scare her..?' He thought with some worry. She was an awfully small lady. Perhaps all catfolk were? He hadn't noticed it before.
'Best to give her some space I suppose.' He scratched the back of his head and moved away from the door. He had expected some awkwardness, but this was not one of the many scenarios he had played out in his mind. He guessed this was just one of the many things he had yet to learn about girls.
It was moments like these he wished Rem still lived with him; he seemed to understand women far more than Koseas did. But perhaps not this one? Rem had always kept more... outgoing company.
Perhaps this was a type Koseas would enjoy getting to know?

All the thinking had made him hungry.
He wondered if Hariett was hungry too, she had traveled today after all.
Traveling always made Koseas hungry.
He decided to make them some dinner.

...

Hariett had only managed to get a few things out of the boxes before she got distracted by one of her belongings.
It was a framed family picture.
in the frame Hariett was sitting in the arms of her dad next to her mom.
She was so young in this picture, but they all looked happy together.
That's what she thought at least.
She still didn't know what had caused her dad to leave.
She remembered him as such a kind man, and yet, one day he had just left.
He had disappeared from their lives.

A tear landed on the glass of the picture.
Hariett wiped it away and rubbed her eyes; it felt silly to still cry over such old wounds.
She put the picture on the little table by her bed and picked up a green plant she had brought along with her. It was a succulent money tree; she had bought it hoping it would bring good fortune for her if she remembered to water it and take good care of it. She placed it on the windowsill.
Through the window, she could see out behind the apartment building and down at the river flowing through the city. On the other side, there was a park.
She had been told there was a park fairly close by, but not that she could see it from her bedroom!
This was nice.
She could feed the birds whenever she wanted.
If Koseas was a nice fellow after all this wouldn't be bad.
It could be the start of something nice.
She would just have to get used to how tall and scaly he was.
She wondered if his tail was slimy, she hoped it wasn't, but all snakes had looked quite slimy to her. The thought made her fur fluff up again.

...



The apartment got filled with the smell of spaghetti and minced meat.
Koseas had plated up two portions and brought one of them to the locked door.
"Hariett? How is it going in there?" He asked after he knocked gently.
She didn't reply at first, so he knocked again, this time a little harder, perhaps she was listening to music and didn't hear him.

Little did he know that she had fallen asleep on the bed as soon as she had gotten it dressed with a blanket and a pillow. She hadn't realized how exhausted traveling had made her.
"Y-Yes?!" She replied not having caught what he had asked in the first place. He voice was nervous even if she didn't wish it to be.

Koseas decided to not ask further about the manner of her reply.
"I made dinner! Are you hungry? There is enough for you as well." He offered.

Hariett felt a lump in her throat.
She was indeed hungry, but she wasn't ready to face the scary guy again so soon.
"Oh, I'm a bit busy. C-Could I warm some later..?" She asked from behind the door.

"Sure? It won't be as good though..." Koseas' pointy ears hung a bit with disappointment.
"I'll leave it here. You can eat it when you feel like it. I'll be in my room if you need anything." He informed and put the plate on the floor by the door.
"Good luck with your things." He added with a cheerful tone before he slithered off to his bedroom.
He stopped a bit and hid to see if she would open up and take the food after all.
And once a moment had passed the door did indeed get unlocked before a careful hand pulled the plate into the safety of the room.
Koseas smiled at the act; she was just shy.
As long as she got some food in her he was happy; nobody would starve in this home.
There would be time to get to know her better once she had settled.