Not being paranoid about seeming smart in front of friends takes some intelligence, wit and confidence. Say a few words in French--if you know enough to not just be pretentious--speak with sophisticated words, speak on deep subjects. But most importantly, have fun being out there with no regret. Keep in mind, though, that if all you do is follow the steps listed below, you may not actually gain real friendships, but merely acquaintances who admire the facade you are displaying. Real friendship involve openness, trust, vulnerability, and truths. But who wants to bother with fake relationships when you can gain friends by making them feel comfortable with you? Read on!

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[edit] Steps

Speak with confidence. To do this, be confident that you are saying true things. Do your research and only say things you know to be correct. People quickly learn who they can trust and who they cannot. If you frequently say things that turn out to be untrue, your words would carry less weight. If your friends are talking about something you don't know much about then stay quiet and listen. When you get home look up whatever it is that you didn't know about.
Speak in a different language. In French, "Je m'appelle" means "My name is". You say "Please" with "S'il vous plait". Try out different phrases. Take French in school and don't be a poser.
Talk about things that interest you like quantum physics, politics, and correctly use words such as 'superfluous' and 'ostracize.' Make sure that you consult a dictionary or encyclopedia in order to really understand the words, otherwise you'll appear merely an ignorant pretender. Intelligent people become knowledgeable by trying to learn and use their knowledge. Maybe your friends will appreciate the new you... give them a chance to be smart too.
Be "in the know". Read the newspaper and watch the news everyday and mention interesting news to your friends, and if they seem interested, tell them more. You can also go on the internet to search interesting articles. A lot of knowledge can be obtained this way.
Don't be sarcastic. Raise your eyebrows as a greeting or as recognition of something. (This can get you called a "smart-aleck" if you stare or do a "fake-smile" at the same time--or even grounded if you abuse this toward your parents). Witty expressions are valued when done well, however and if they are followed by a chuckle and a smile.
Speak clearly and avoid "uhm"'s and "like"'s (especially while giving a report); you could say "aa-and" or "buuut" to hold the floor. Breathe deeply instead of filling the space with a useless "as I said."
Sit in a room full of friends, and just sit and be very--if this is not the way you normally act--quiet but occasionally nodding and smiling knowingly. This may cause them to think that you are observing (or teasing) them, and they may act differently. This may make them feel self-conscious, so try not to make people feel uncomfortable too much, or you may lose your friends.
Learn quotes by famous people and use them in situations that call for them. Be sure to let your friends know who said that, so they will ponder the thought and think more deeply by knowing the person who said it. This can make history and even current events more interesting.
Use "big" words like educated people should, but not unnecessarily. Using a thesaurus to look up synonyms for "great" and then spitting them out once or twice when you remember them doesn't help you. But consistently using the more specialized words periodically, whether in one conversation or just generally speaking, shows that you know what you're talking about.
Relate situations or peoples' personalities to historic events/people. Start a description, like "See that's why Tolkien went to Oxford, he first became a philologist.." and then halfway through your sentence say, "..never mind, that's not important. You just reminded me of it." Then laugh and say. "Just kidding!"
Try saying it with a grin... and maybe, just maybe, you can even let people know that it was for a funny remark...
Be careful about showing inferiority feelings--which means someone that is "starving for attention" or is "begging for compliments"--some people may say: "You have a complex!" But, you can get rid of an inferiority complex and sail on being as smart as ever. Not everyone can be above average, but you can try!

[edit] Tips

When someone questions you, question them in return. It may be funny or annoying--so be careful how you do it.
If challenged by someone who does know what they are talking about, don't be defensive, rather agree that they have an interesting perspective and that you appreciate the information.
Don't be afraid to admit mistakes when you may be wrong. If someone calls you out on it, and they are irrefutably right, concede, and quickly change the subject. Or use humor to defuse the situation, admitting that you have yet to finish studying that bit of knowledge.
It is better to be quiet and thought a simple fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Use silence to your advantage; people will wonder what you're thinking.
Don't brag about things you have that they don't unless you are going to share. People can brag in certain ways about themselves without being offensive--so listen and learn to read them from this. If it just for show, it may indicate a "lack of confidence."
Don't use slang or act immaturely. Immaturity may be shown by ignoring important things or letting little things upset you, so keep a positive and accepting (not ignoring) attitude.
If people remark that something you said was nerdy or "why do you know that?," have a sense of humor about it, and say "I'm just having some fun trying to use knowledge!" and laugh it off... Don't get angry.
Be graceful. No one likes a know-it-all who brags or acts like "I'm better and smarter than you!" Acting or being smarter does not make you better than the rest of the crowd so be humble about it.
Actually learn. Take interest in the process of finding out about the world, and share (with humility - no one knows it all) what you find interesting. Ask people about their own mental journeys. Be willing to be taught. Be passionate about ideas.

[edit] Warnings

Watch out for people who might catch you just acting smart. Keep learning and you will actually be smart rather than acting.
Don't make up facts - and if you do, make sure you say something like, "I read it forever ago in a magazine" or something equally vague.
Another excellent vague source is "I saw it on the History Channel." Works like a charm.
Also, if caught, you can use. "Oh, then I guess he/she/the author/TV presenter was mistaken." Don't say who he/she is.
Be careful if you use the "big words" trick or else you risk sounding stupid if you use the word incorrectly. Make sure you know exactly what the word means and how to use it; e.g, don't give an intransitive verb a direct object: Wrong--"He succumbed the disease." Correct--"He succumbed to the disease." (using "to" makes it an indirect object which is right.) Don't mix up a word with another similar sounding word either.
Intelligence is like an expensive watch: You don't take it out to read the time to everyone, you take it out if asked (or if it is really useful or helpful).