I would say branch out and meet other people. Join a sports team and meet new people that way. Or join a club at school. It seems like in school, there are always so many labels like the popular kids, the preppy kids, the goth kids, the punk kids, the nerds, the jocks, the pretty girls and so on and so on. Try to forget the labels and see each friend and person as an individual. As far as your one friend who you say is now more popular than you, why not try talking with the people he is talking with. Join in the conversation rather than standing back and watching.
I don't have many friends either, you just have to know that, soon it will get better. There are people in this world who are so ignorant that they don't seem to think about what other people feel. Believe me when you go out to university or college, you will find your niche, and by then everyone is way more mature. Just wait, everything will turn out all right.
By stating that you do not want sympathy you are inadvertently expressing your sub-conscious thoughts that what you are doing is inappropriate in some manner which I assure you that it is not.
This is SupportForums and you have come to the correct place from what I have seen.
By venting your exact thoughts without "explicitly deleting" what you really wish to say, or just not fully stating what you really want is a truly beneficial way to get a lot of what is on your mind out in the open and it allows for further progression in what you aim to do.
Meet new people, try and get to know them fast but don't get to attached that you'll be disappointed if they reject you.
make yourself bettter in everyway possible...
I just vent by going out and shooting/playing paintball.
It's pretty fun, should get your mind off of this and calm you down.