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

A/N:
Quick author's note: Phoenix is not really made to be entirely likable. She's extremely transphobic and homophobic, which means she's not at all supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. However, Not liking her is your choice, same thing if you still choose to like her. But just wanted to say that Pheonix is going to have a very negative character change at the end of this book.

Phoenix sat with Harvey until his sobs subsided, her own anger simmering just beneath the surface. She knew she had to protect him from their mother's wrath, but she also knew she couldn't keep doing it forever. She needed to find a way out, for both of them.Her thoughts drifted to the basketball team and the whispers she'd heard. If Tiffany had her way, she'd be kicked off the team, and the one thing keeping her afloat would be gone. The idea of losing that small slice of normalcy terrified her, and she resolved to find a way to fix things before they got out of hand.The next day, she approached Tiffany in the hallway, her heart racing. "Look, I'm sorry about the note," she said, her voice tight. "Can we just let it go?"Tiffany's eyes narrowed, and she leaned in, her voice low and venomous. "You think an apology is going to cut it?""What do you want?" Phoenix asked, desperation creeping into her voice. "I'll do whatever it takes.""You're going to prove you're sorry," Tiffany said with a smug smile. "You're going to go to prom with me and act like we're BFFs."Phoenix's stomach dropped. Prom? With Tiffany? It was a nightmare scenario. But she thought of Harvey, of the bruises she didn't want him to bear. "Okay," she agreed, the word sticking in her throat like a jagged piece of glass.The days leading up to prom were a blur of forced smiles and awkward interactions. Tiffany strutted through the halls with an air of victory, her arm looped through Phoenix's like a trophy. The whispers grew louder, the stares more pronounced, but she held her head high, telling herself it was for Harvey.On prom night, she stood in front of the mirror, the glittering dress feeling like a prison. Her mother's voice echoed in her head, a taunting reminder of her own inadequacies. But she pushed it aside, focusing on the mission at hand.As she walked into the gym, transformed into a glitzy ballroom, she saw the shock and confusion on her classmates' faces. They hadn't expected the two of them to be together, and she could feel the weight of their judgment. But she pasted on a smile and played her part, all for the sake of peace.The music was too loud, the lights too bright, and the air too thick with perfume and cologne. She felt like she was drowning, the walls closing in. But she danced with Tiffany, laughed at her jokes, and pretended she didn't feel the eyes on her, questioning, judging. Her heart pounded in her chest, a steady drumbeat of fear and anger.In the corner, she spotted Rachel, watching her with a mix of curiosity and pity. Rachel, who had once been a quiet, shy girl before Tiffany had taken her under her wing and turned her into a minion of spite. Phoenix felt a twinge of guilt. If she had been brave enough to stand up to Tiffany sooner, maybe Rachel wouldn't have become who she was.As the night dragged on, the tension grew unbearable. The music switched to a slow song, and Tiffany's hand was suddenly on her back, guiding her closer. The heat of Tiffany's body against hers was suffocating, and she had to fight the urge to push her away. But she knew that any misstep would lead to disaster.