Birdwatching

"Hey, come on, we're almost there!"
Ceci calls back to you as you slowly trudge up the forested path, She had organised a hike for the two of you but hadn't disclosed the final destination of it, however, the pair of binoculars around her neck and a beginners guide to ornithology were a dead give away.
You wipe the torrent of sweat from your brow as you peak the apex of the incline and to your relief there was a bench in the middle of a clearing. You hauled the backpack off your shoulders and dropped it to the side in a resounding thump, exasperated.
"Don't be so dramatic, it wasn't thaaat heavy" Ceci taunts. You felt like a pack mule more than anything.
Shaking your head, you begin to rummage through the inventory and set up a small rest stop. It was a warm, clear day and a gentle breeze rustled the verdant leaves of the trees around the glade. Having gotten to stop and appreciate the trail, you finally notice the chirps and tweets of birds in the canopy, a calming chorus.
"Look I see one!" Ceci excitedly skips over to pull your arm and point.
"Do you see it? Look!"
Squinting, you look around where she was directing, a small dart of green fluttered in the bough perched high off the ground. You had no idea what bird it was but it was a cute little creature that chirruped joyously. She lifted her binoculars up to get a better look.
"So cute!" she exclaimed, her voice was almost mimicking the high pitch tonality of the bird itself.
Ceci talks at you as you finish setting up the bench, her meandering sentences of dulcet tones about what birds she can see were interrupted by her adorable attempts to communicate with the avian animals, all the while tugging at your arm to look at what she's seeing like an excitable child.
You sit down on the bench and take a deep breath of the fresh summer air, sipping on some cool water. Ceci grabs some cookies from the bench and follows suit.
"Would you like one?" she says, muffled by the cookie she was already chewing on.
"Open up! Ahhh!"
You reciprocate the noise and open wide, she places the cookie in your mouth.
As you greedily munch, she giggles at you and grins.
"You might as well be a bird now too!"
The birdsong around is drowned out by the two of you laughing and playfully bantering together.
She had shuffled as close as she could get whilst you messed around together, both only noticing after settling down. Ceci clasps your hand gently and squeezes; her small, smooth hands felt cool despite the warmth of the season, her jointed fingers curled into your palm. She looks down at your hands together, the calmness of the surroundings mirrored a solemnity she begun to exude.
"I know we haven't been together for very long, but... I've really enjoyed spending time with you."
She speaks quietly but surely, a measured rehearsal. She raises her face to meet yours, Her soft features were swamped in a reddening blush; as you look deeply into her eyes, she tightens her hold on your hand, the chirps of the birds and the noise of the forest is drowned out as your world shrinks to this moment of immediate intimacy.
"I want us to do more together, a lot more... I..."
Ceci tails off, her key span faster as she gazed back at you, swamped in emotions, the final sentences were caught in her throat and you could almost read what she wanted to say through her yearning stare.
She cleared her throat and managed only one word, softly and sweetly.
"Promise?"
You nod and promise.
Her face breaks into a loving smile and her eyes close in happiness, she rests her head on your sturdy shoulder, still clutching your hand.
You're brought back to the forest environs as a pair of two pure white doves sung a symphonious cooing duet together in the branches above. You smile, ruminating on the serendipity of the moment.