having things still mostly work out badly, but learning to be OK with it.
Still, happy for you, dude. Girl sounds great and the group sounds great, too.
It is my honest view that the highest social status people are often also the kindest. Like, I think the trope of a super popular "mean girl" clique exists for a reason, but I have known more super popular people in the mold of always helping people out and genuinely being kind. They became popular not by manipulation, but by being highly skilled at being a good friend. There is an episode of 30 Rock that toys with the popular vs nerd/bully vs victim trope:
https://youtu.be/NoUrLbHg5z4?si=XgSEY3F56zkQ8Yh1