Hey man. I posted about this a few weeks ago. Same exact thing here. I literally felt like I almost wrote it.
It really is depressing, and kinda embarrassing at the same time.
I mean I have a ton of friends at school too, but yeah they all seem busy with all their other friends outside of school.
It's like how do you cross that transition to hanging with people outside of school.
I've done a lot bro, I've taken a kid to an NFL almost 'buying' his friendship. We're best friends in school, but outside of school, he wouldn't think twice to call me.
I also have this great friend who I've been friends with for like 6 years since 8th grade. He just literally doesn't care about me. We used to both have no friends in 8-10th grade, but he ended up with a full fledged friend group, and doesn't give a shit about me. I'm even really good friends with his friend group too!! He just can't give a damn. I've called him out on it, he's just told me to chill out.
I also have 2 friends one who runs, they're good kids, kinda hung out with them over the summer, but we just drifted apart, but in kinda back there now.
I mean just wanted to show you you're really not alone. And you're definitly not a loser. Truth is these kids probably don't know what they're missing out on.
Do you see you have 1 good conection to a group? Honestly sometimes it doesn't hurt to casually mention how no one ever asks you to do anything. Or even by like hey guys let's get food sometime.
I mean you kinda wrote out my life with your post. Trick is to keep preservering and never give up. I don't think you are doing something wrong (I mean maybe if you're dressing like an idiot), you just gotta keep hustling.
Something will come up, I promise.
If I had any advice for you, I'd say just keep trying to make more friends.
This sounds weird to say but maybe focus on someone who has a friend group you're trying to be part of. Pick someone from a friend group where everyone likes you, and make sure you're closest with them.
Then I would really become buddies with him, like casually though. Don't kiss up, but be bros with him. Ask him if he wants to go to some NHL NBA game if he's into that and if you had tickets. He might even then wanna hang out with you, if not maybe even bring it up
What grade are you in? Because soon you're going to college, so don't worry about it too much.
I'm sorry all my advice sucked I like just woke up and maybe I'm not the best one haha.