Here's the thing, though. No matter how secret you think your secret exclusive group is, the people who are being excluded know they're being excluded. Especially in a tiny, closed community such as Nerdvana. It was clear to me from Colby's language (verbal and physical) and from what Heather (? -- I've forgotten her name already -- the one Colby sent home in the nuclear nerd-off) said about not being able to choose between her friends, so she voted for Colby, that Colby knew very well that there was some clique he was not part of. So, he was having none of the "Oh, we're not excluding you!" bullshit, when obviously they were.
What bothers me so much is not the clique (although it does), and the exclusion (although that does, too), but the denial of the exclusion. To Colby's face. And he was right to call them on it.
But it matters no more, since the Houses are dissovled and it's every nerd for him- or herself.
Go, Kaitlin!