Aristotle turns his philosophy towards the subject of friendship in book VIII of Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle says friendship is “not only a necessary thing, but a noble one” and is capable of “hold[ing] cities together” (1155a).
But not all friendship is virtuous? Some friendships are of utility; “the person is loved not in so far as he is who he is, but in so far as he provides some good or pleasure” (1156a). These friendships dissolve quickly and change with what is useful.
Very incidental friendship at first
“Complete friendship is that of good people, those who are alike in their virtue; they each alike wish good things to each other in so far as they are good”, says Aristotle about the other form of friendship (1156b). This friendship is long-lasting in duration.
Aristotle claims that each friendship will last as long as beach party receives the same benefit – the complete friendship always gives both parties the same benefit. He then states, “it is bad people who will tend to be friends for pleasure or utility [. . .] but good people will be friends for each other’s sake, because they are friends in so far as they are good”.
I’m not sure when Aristotle last made a new friend (probably a while since he has been dead for centuries), but that’s not how friendships are made.
*I’ll pause while the proverbial glass of water is dropped and shattered by the awestruck observer*
How do we form a bond with someone? We enjoy their company. We find pleasure in their presence. As long as we enjoy their accompaniment, we consider them a friend. This relationship must last for months or years before we genuinely care about someone else for their own sake. Bob Brewton, chairman of the Baylor Angel Network, recently said, “once you get old, you don’t make anymore old friends. Your old friends come from the friends you make now”.
“Friends” helping each other out
My point (I know you’ve been waiting for it) is this – complete friendships comes from the maturing of an “incidental” friendship. To say one is better than the other ignores this. The effort put into creating a complete friendship, now that’s virtuous.
What type of friends are these?
The Aesthetic Camel 
I think that can happen, the maturing of incidental friendship, but I also think that some friendships start out on a different plane simply because something different in the person appeals to us.