backup friend

i'm just the backup friend.
the second-choice friend,
the 'only gets called up when everyone else is busy' friend.

i'm in all the group chats
where nobody ever texts.
i get invited to all the sleepovers,
where they laugh about their inside jokes
that i don't know.

why even invite me?
i'm the backup friend.
who was busy that night?
i'm always the second choice.

and the people i'd think of first,
when asked about my best friends,
would my name be the first out of their mouths?
no, it wouldn't.

because i'm just the backup friend.