Only a negative character change comes a long way [OC backstory]

The walk home from school was a blur of quiet streets and the distant hum of a world that felt far removed from the chaos of the day. Phoenix's thoughts swirled like a tornado of uncertainties and half-formed plans. What would Tiffany do next? How would her mother react when she found out about the note? And what about the basketball team? Would they take Tiffany's side, or would they stand by her?When she arrived home, the house was eerily still. Harvey's laughter, usually echoing through the walls, was absent, and she found him sitting alone in the living room, staring blankly at a cartoon playing on the TV. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and for a brief moment, she felt like the big sister he deserved. "Hey, buddy," she said, ruffling his hair. "What's up?"He shrugged, his small shoulders drooping. "Mom's in a bad mood," he whispered.Phoenix sighed. "Again?"He nodded, and she felt the weight of her own anger towards Tiffany pale in comparison to the storm that brewed in their house. She gave him a forced smile. "I'll talk to her, okay?"But when she walked into the kitchen, her mother, Rosanne, was nowhere to be found. The room was a mess, dishes piled high in the sink and a half-empty bottle of wine on the counter. She sighed, the tension in her chest tightening like a vice. She knew what was coming.As she started to clean up, her mother stormed in, her face twisted in a snarl. "What the hell was that at school today?" she barked.Phoenix froze, the sponge in her hand dripping soapy water onto the floor. "What do you mean?""Don't play dumb with me," Rosanne spat. "I got a call from Mrs. Higgins. Apparently, you think it's funny to disrespect your teachers and make a mockery of the school."The words stung, and she felt the fire of anger ignite within her. "They started it," she said through gritted teeth. "They're the ones who—"Her mother's hand cracked across her cheek, sending her reeling. "Don't you dare defend yourself," she hissed. "You're just like your father, always thinking you're better than everyone else."The comparison to Emilio was a low blow, and it knocked the wind out of her. She stared at her mother, the woman who had once held her close and whispered sweet nothings into her ear. The woman who had promised to protect her from the cruel world. But all she saw now was the monster she had become."You're nothing like him," she murmured, her voice shaking."Oh really?" Rosanne sneered. "Then why do you keep messing up? Why can't you be more like Harvey?"The words stabbed her like a knife, and she felt the tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She turned away, her vision blurry with rage and sadness. "Because Harvey doesn't have to be the tough one," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.The silence was deafening. She heard her mother's footsteps retreating down the hallway, the door to her room slamming shut with a finality that sent shivers down her spine. She leaned against the sink, the cold porcelain a stark contrast to the heat of her anger. The room spun around her, the walls closing in.Phoenix took a deep, shaky breath, the scent of leftover dinner and the faint stench of alcohol filling her nose. She knew the drill – clean up the mess, check on Harvey, and hide her bruises. But tonight, she couldn't find it in herself to care about the mess or the bruises. Instead, she focused on the anger that burned in her chest like a wildfire.Her eyes fell on the fridge, where a photo of her father in his firefighter's uniform stared back at her. The proud smile on his face was a stark contrast to the sadness in her own reflection. "Why?" she whispered, the question directed at both the photo and the universe. "Why did you have to leave us?"The sound of the TV grew louder, and she knew Harvey was trying to drown out the fight. She steeled herself and walked into the living room, sitting down next to him. He leaned into her, his small frame shaking with quiet sobs. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling the tremors of his fear and pain."It's okay," she lied, her voice shaky. "I've got you."For a moment, the world outside the four walls of the house didn't matter. It was just her and Harvey, the way it should have been. But she knew the peace was temporary, a Band-Aid on a gaping wound.