Open Question: I took over a room in an apt and made a verbal agreement to pay the previous occupant for a deposit...?

I took over a room in an apt and made a verbal agreement to pay the previous occupant for a deposit... I paid the occupant but they are claiming I owe them more. Can I be taken to small claims court? Can she force me to pay without a written agreement? I asked her to prove it by showing me a cancelled check but her first payment was lumped with her rent, so I don't know which is which.