I just want to be friends
It means you’re good enough to talk to, but you’re not good enough to date. They’re nice enough to say it, but they’re probably thinking you’re too ugly, too broke, or too weird to be worth the effort of actually dating you.
She said, 'I just want to be friends,' and I knew she was just too scared to admit I was better looking than her.
He said, 'I just want to be friends,' and I knew he was just too broke to date me.
My ex said, 'I just want to be friends,' and I knew she was just too weird to handle me as a boyfriend.