If you used Clearing in 2024, how did you find it?

new people at school making friends easier than me

hi guys,
so basically I've started sixth form and staying at the same school I did for secondary. last year I basically found myself friendless because I left a toxic group, for my benefit, but they were the only people who really talked to me. I made friends with a new girl before sixth form started and we've since kept talking, and I've met some other new people too.
recently all these new people got added to a group chat of some of the old people. I like the old people, and have for ages wanted to be their friends. well this new group is now going off and partying and meeting up, as you do, and the new people, while still polite to me, are only really occupied with them (especially the girl I previously made friends with!). I'm scared I'm now going to keep being a loner for the next two years as I have no idea how to get on that group chat and actually firm up friendships with anyone. do I ask to join or not?? is that even polite???
I feel like if I don't act soon, in the next few days, it'll be too late :s-smilie:

any advice?
p.s, my school offers two different courses and the one I'm on has had so many people drop out that there's only around 10 people on it now, none of whom are new or the old people I wanted to be friends with. so unfortunately chatting in class is not an option