One friend who’ll leave with you anytime is worth more than a whole crowd.

One person who will walk out with you at any point, without a discussion, changes what you can risk going to. It means no party is a trap and no night is something you have to endure to the end. That is worth more than a wide circle, because a wide circle will not notice you want to go. Loyalty like that shows up in small logistics rather than in anything said out loud.

Work out who that person is for you, and tell them you would do the same. Then actually do it next time they want to leave early. That is the whole arrangement.