Disclaimer – I own nothing of RENT or West Side Story. Both of them belong to their respected owners. 'Nuff said.

Italics are song lyrics.

A/N: My parents and I drove to my sister's place for Thanksgiving. On the way there and on the way back, I watched both West Side Story and RENT. I was watching RENT when I came up with this story idea.

A/N 2: Cast of Characters:

Maria – Mimi
Tony – Mark
Riff – Roger
Bernardo – Collins
Chino – Benny
Anita – Angel
Gratizella/Consuela – Maureen
Velma/Rosalita – Joanne
Anybodys – April

Everyone else is an original character.

A/N 3: Songs – Act 1

Jet Song – Roger & the Jets
Something's Coming – Mark
Dance at the Gym – everyone
Maria – Mark
America – Collins, Angel, Shark Boys & Shark Girls
Tonight – Mark & Mimi
Gee, Officer Krupke – Roger & The Jets
One Hand, One Heart – Mark & Mimi
Montage – Roger, Mimi, Mark, Angel & Collins
The Rumble

Songs – Act 2

I Feel Pretty – Mimi, Maureen & Joanne
Somewhere – Mark & Mimi
Cool – Ice and the Jets
A Boy Like That/I Have A Love – Mimi & Angel
Rape Scene (Mambo) – Angel & the Jets
Finale – Mimi & Mark

Summary: AU: RENT done like West Side Story. Rated T for violence and sexual things, also because I'm paranoid.

Genre: Romance/None

Rating: T


CHAPTER ONE
(chapter title – Prologue/Jet Song)

An aerial view of New York City appears, followed by whistling and snapping fingers. It's a hot summer's afternoon in 1989 and the Jets, led by their fearless leader, Roger, are on the playground, smoking. A baseball is aimed their way and Action picks it up, examining the ball before tossing it to its owner. Roger nods to his gang and they followed him off the playground and to the streets.

As they rounded the corner, they saw Collins, the leader of the Jets' worst enemy, the Sharks. Roger and some of the gang went around Collins, while Snowboy and Ice kissed and called Collins names.

It continued like that for most of the afternoon and ended in a brawl. That's when Officer Krupke and Lieutenant Shrank broke it up.

"Baby John come here." Shrank commanded. Baby John, the youngest of the Jets came over to where Shrank was and stood next to him. "Which one of these bloodied you?"

Baby John was struggling over his answer when Roger came over and laid a hand on Baby John's shoulder.

"Uh, you see sir, we suspect the job was done by a cop." Roger said.

"Two cops." Tiger spoke up.

"At least." Ice chimed in.

Lieutenant Shrank lectured the Jets for a bit before he and Officer Krupke exited the playground.

The Jets mocked Officer Krupke and Lieutenant Shrank for a bit before Roger told them to stop it. They made their way down an alleyway, followed by April, a tomboy who wanted to be in the gang.

"The road, little girl, the road!" Roger told her. April spit at the gang before she ran off.

The gang got talking and the talk led to Mark.

"Who needs Mark?" Action asked. "He's not part of the gang no more."

"I and Mark started the Jets and without him, we wouldn't be here today." Roger answered, lighting a cigarette.

"Why'd he have to go and get a job?" A-Rab questioned.

"Youth board corrupted him." Snowboy joked.

"You remember the day we clobbered the Emeralds. Mark was right there." Roger reminded his gang.

"He saved my ever-lovin' neck!" Baby John told the Jets.

"And he'll do it again, buddy boy – I can guarantee it!" Roger told the youngest Jet member before breaking into song.

"When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way
From your first cigarette til your last dyin' day
When you're a Jet, if the spit hits the fan
You've got brothers around, you're a family man
You're never alone, you're never disconnected
You're home with your own and when company's expected
You're well protected
Then you are set with a capital J which you'll never forget
Til they cart you away
When you're a Jet you stay a Jet
!" Roger sang.

"Now I know Mark like I know me, and I can guarantee you can count him in." Roger told the Jets.

"In, out, let's get cracking!" Action said.

"Where are you gonna find Collins?" Snowboy questioned.

"At the dance tonight at the gym." Roger answered.

"Yeah, but the gym's neutral territory." A-Rab put in.

"A-Rab, I'm not gonna make nice there, I'm only gonna challenge him." Roger told the other man.

"Great daddy-o!" Ice praised.

"So, everybody dress up sweet and sharp. Meet Mark and I at the dance after ten and walk tall!" Roger told his gang as he ran off.

"We always walk tall!" Baby John said.

"We're Jets!" Tiger said.

"The greatest!" Action exclaimed.

"When you're a Jet, you're the top cat in town
You're the gold-medal kid with the heavyweight crown
When you're a Jet swingiest thing
Little boy, you're a man, little man you're a king
!" Snowboy sang.

"The Jets are in gear, our cylinders are clickin'
The Sharks'll stay clear cause every Puerto Rican's
A lousy chicken

Here come the Jets like a bat outta hell
Someone gets in our way, someone don't feel so well
Here come the Jets, little world step aside
Better go underground, better run, better hide
We're drawing a line, so keep your noses hidden
We're hanging a sign says 'Visitors Forbidden'
And we ain't kiddin'

Here come the Jets yeah!
And we're gonna beat every last gang
On the whole buggin' street
On the whole ever mother lovin'
Street
Yeah!" The Jets sang.

They then went to their respectable living places to get ready for the dance that night.