Why would they be friends? They live on other sides of the country, Johnny did not to SOI so he could not get to know Evan that way. They only time they meet is pretty much when they compete against one another, and that is not the time for friendships. Even the skaters who are friends (or more than friends) are all business when they are on competition ice. Considering one or the other was the favorite for all the national titles since Johnny was 15....i don't see why they would become besties.
What exactly is Johnny's criteria for accepting Evan as friend?
There is a difference between being friends with someone and being friendly towards them.
I don't really get the friendship thing with him and Mroz, Rippon, Abbott, and Bradley.
I don't know about Evan and Johnny. But several competitors can get along before/during/after the ice shows too.
This is just my impression - Rippon, Abbott, Chan, Lambiel, Weir, Verner came to my country for show performances (and for competitions) more than once. Rippon, Abbott, Verner and Chan, Lambiel seemed to get along very well. Weir and Lambiel seemed to be very close but except him, I don't know how Weir and others got along. Chan seemed to be especially friendly to anyone. Several posters in this forum sound bitter on everything about Chan but I have a very good impression about his personality.
Well, fans cannot exactly know how relationship come and go among skaters. Don't have to expect too high because true friendship generally requires understanding, patience and maturity. But as far as I know, the young skaters/competitors can get along very well like any other young people. If certain two don't get along well, we cannot blame only one. Most likely, we cannot blame anyone.