How can I improve my social skills?

During my 9th and 10th grade years, I had very few friends—just acquaintances. I never truly experienced what it was like to have a genuine friendship. One drawback during this time was the constant drama and conflicts among my peers, which was never my style. In conversations, they only seemed to talk about other people. I made an effort to show interest in their discussions, but it didn’t work out. Despite my attempts to socialize, others perceived me as being "chape." All I wanted was to connect with someone. I spent those two years feeling isolated; they were the worst years of my school life. I desperately want to have a friend circle and make moments w/ my pals. I'm not an introvert, but could anyone suggest how I might fit in without coming off as "chape"?