Hey. So, I'm 20yo, still a noob, still improving, and I've never had much friends. Always was a loner and an introvert. Trying to change that. This semester I've started hanging out a lot with my old and reliable high school group of friends, but I always feel like I'm a little bit left aside. Not that they are picking on me or don't like me, it's just that I couldn't and apparently still can't bond more intimately with any of the guys (or girls). As a group we are very cohesive and close, but one-on-one I have a poor connection with everyone.

This is just an example that applies to other people too. I've never been in a LTR and have basically zero close friends, except perhaps one of my cousins, but he lives far away, has a gf, etc.

Although I'm used to be lonely and I actually really like to be by myself, I realize that this lack of connection makes me even more insecure about these relations. Generally, whenever I try to get closer to someone, I feel like I'm being inconvenient, and it seems like my only option to not appear needy is to withdraw, but if I do the counterpart don't usually reach out. It's like I'm always more invested in anyone else than they are in me.

This not only affects my friendships, but of course my relation with girls I'm interested in and even with family.

How could I practically become less insecure about this and more interesting so I could attract more people to me? I'm not suffering because of it, but I'd be a hypocrite if I said that I don't care. Indeed, it seems like I'm restraining myself from this meaningful connections and I don't know what to do. Any tips?