When your front wheel is out of the bike, be aware of your brake levers. If you accidentally engage your front brake lever (that's the one on the left if you live in the US), you will close the brake pads and they won't easily open back up without a tool.
When it's time to slide your front wheel back in, look for the rotor and be sure you are sliding it in between the brake pads smoothly. Rotors are easily bendable.
To put the thru axle back in, you may need to lift the fork a little to take pressure off to make the thru axle line up with the wheel.
Thread it and tighten it. Be sure you only "hand-tighten" it. You don't want it extremely hard to loosen. So don't have your friend tighten it, they may be stronger and you won't be able to loosen it later!