"A real friend knows when to listen. When to stop listening. When to talk. When to stop talking. When to pour wine. When to stop pouring and just hand over the bottle."

Rules of Friendship
Rule 1: Friends don't have to be exactly the same. Friends have similarities but they also have their differences. The key to opening up the world of friendship is not only to expand on similarities but to accept each others faults. Because you can't ever judge your friend.  A true friend would stick up for you no matter what the consequences are.
Rule 2: Friends have to argue! No one likes to but it is necessary to be healthy. Cause if you agree on everything, either the government has expanded cloning subjects or someone isn't being true and is trying a little too hard.
Rule 3: You have to be comfortable together or else you just aren't going to click. If you feel edgy around the person then something isn't quite right.   Nothing ever sounds stupid, funny, or unbelievable to a true friend, and you never feel stupid saying whatever it is.  Friends can sing at the top of their lungs and not worry about singing the wrong words or being out of tune.  You can do something or nothing with a best friend and still have the best time.
Rule 4: Friends love unconditionally. They have thier little angry moments but what's done is done and all is forgive and forget. Why let something that happened in the past ruin what happiness you could have in the future?  A true friendship has many memories, both good and bad, but all important. Your heart is forever touched by a true friend, no matter how things end up.
Rule 5: Believe in love at first sight because there is the equivalent in friendship. Some people think that you have to know someone really well to become good friends. Trust me, it's not true. If the first time you really spend time together you talk for 25 hours straight until 4:30 in the morning about some topic you thought no one else in the world understood, that's real love at first sight.

Steps on How to Be a Good Friend
Step 1: I suggest that if you want to be a good friend you become friends with someone you actually like. This automatically eliminates all teachers, politicians and people who get rid of school holidays.
Step 2: Once you have found someone you have things in common with, you should expand on this and get to know your friend better. Perhaps inviting her to your next BBQ or even talking to her now and then could help.
Step 3: If you mutually decide you have some things in common, good - you have found yourself a nice new friend. If you don't have anything in common, don't worry and keep searching - there are plenty of other fish in the sea!  Remember that everyone is a friend until they prove otherwise.
Step 4: Now yes, this friend will require quite a large proportion of your time, because naturally both parties need to be enthusiastic for a friendship to blossom. This means that you will need to support your friend in all their chosen paths, but be prepared to advise them against treading through dangerous waters.
Step 5: A friendship which is built upon mutual trust, respect, support and (my favorite) the acceptance of differences and the right to be an individual will foster other benefits such as loads of fun times where you party together or just hang out and share secrets (now don't deny it - these are the benefits that you were just itching to hear about!!)
Step 6: Well, now that you've found a friend, you should work on keeping them (that is if you want to be a good friend and not just a friend fling). My best word of advice would be to continue with the above steps, make your friend feel loved and wanted and show you do care about them. If they're down and feel like they have no one in the world, prove them wrong by rocking up to their house with a bunch of sunflowers and a bottle of wine (or cordial, depending on how old you and your friend are) and talk through their concerns with them. If you're not the flower type, take them out for a big night on the town for a sure fire way to lift their spirits!

Just remember, friends are forever. But only if you keep it that way. Don't diss your buds, love them instead. And when they drive you nuts, love them that much more for being just a little bit different and maybe just a little bit quirky!